A song recorded by a 20-year-old singer from Kentucky has earned a place among Billboard‘s 100 Best Country Songs of All Time.
The song is “Why Not Me” by The Judds, the country duo made up of Wynonna Judd and her mother, Naomi Judd. Billboard ranked the 1984 hit at No. 43 on its staff-picked list of the greatest country songs.
Wynonna Judd was born in Kentucky on May 30, 1964. When “Why Not Me” was released in September 1984, the future country music star was 20 years old.
The song became an important early hit for The Judds. In December 1984, it became the duo’s second consecutive No. 1 single on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. “Why Not Me” also received major awards, winning Song of the Year at the ACM Awards and Single of the Year at the CMA Awards.
Naomi and Wynonna Judd of The Judds at the ACM Awards, Los Angeles, 1985.Photo by Ron Wolfson/Getty Images
“Why Not Me” was written by Harlan Howard, Sonny Throckmorton and Brent Maher. Maher also produced The Judds’ album of the same name.
The song was released in September 1984 as the title track and lead single from the duo’s first full-length studio album. The album, Why Not Me, was later released on Oct. 15, 1984.
In her 1993 autobiography, Naomi Judd said the song had “one of the strongest melodic hooks I’d ever heard.”
Billboard highlighted the song’s musical details. Bandleader and guitarist Don Potter created the guitar licks that Naomi Judd described as “a little slice of heaven.” The publication pointed to the song’s story of wanting love, along with the vocal work and gentle harmonies between Wynonna and Naomi.
The sound of those harmonies helped The Judds stand out during the 1980s. Wynonna sang lead, while Naomi provided harmony vocals.
The title track became part of a larger run of success for the duo. The Why Not Me album also produced the No. 1 hits “Girls Night Out” and “Love Is Alive.” The album reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and later received a 2× Platinum certification in the United States.
The Judds had already reached No. 1 with “Mama He’s Crazy” before “Why Not Me” arrived. The new single became their second consecutive chart-topper and helped begin an even bigger stretch of success.
Wynonna and Naomi Judd both had Kentucky roots. Naomi was born in Ashland, Kentucky, while Wynonna was born in Kentucky on May 30, 1964.
The family later moved back to Kentucky, where Naomi raised Wynonna and her younger daughter, Ashley. It was during those years that Wynonna and Naomi developed their connection through music and harmony singing.
Naomi later recalled how listening to bluegrass singers helped her realize what she and Wynonna could do together.
“As these women harmonized together, it came to me: Wynonna and I couldn’t talk to each other, but, low and behold, we could sing together,” she said, per PBS.
The mother and daughter eventually moved to Nashville to pursue a record deal. Their efforts paid off in 1983 when RCA Records signed them after an audition.
The Judds released six studio albums between 1984 and 1990 and scored more than 20 singles on Billboard’s country charts, including 14 No. 1 hits. The duo also won five Grammy Awards and nine CMA Awards.
Their career as a full-time duo ended in 1991 after Naomi was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and stopped touring. Wynonna then began a successful solo career and later reunited with her mother for several performances.
Naomi Judd died in 2022, one day before The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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