Naomi Judd and USA Today honor nurses for National Nurses Week

Published in USA Today By Naomi Judd When an RN enters a patient’s room, they can never know what they will encounter. A very ill patient in pain asks for morphine, which will require an automated pump. The IV bag is running out, the bed-ridden patient has soiled himself, oxygen rate blowing through his nasal cannula needs to be monitored. The IV site going into the patient’s arm must be carefully checked, and its bandage changed by sterile technique. After inserting a catheter in his bladder, a collection bag is hung on the side of the bed. It must be measured and emptied periodically. The nurse must be mindful of strict times to give regular medicines... Oh, by the way, this nurse has eight other patients.

Real life heroes

In other departments RNs are saving lives in dramatic emergencies in trauma units. They are delivering babies, quieting crack-addicted newborns, witnessing death, giving hope to cancer patients, sadly informing relatives their loved one has died. And it’s never far from their mind that one mistake can cause pain, injury or even death. Nurses play many roles: Healer, comforter, listener, therapist, educator, business administrator, RN instructor, family mediator. These are everyday heroines and heroes. I love and admire these empathetic, caring, hardworking and underpaid middle-class Americans. I cherish a bond of kinship, comradery like that between police, fireman, teachers and soldiers. If only this world was fair, these professions would pay what athletes and entertainers make. To anyone considering a career in nursing, I highly recommend it! To somebody considering a career change, I entered nursing school in my thirties. I earned much more than a degree—I earned self-respect, independence, knowledge and skills I use every day. When I became a patient in 1990, because of the life threatening Hepatitis C, I was forced to end my singing career. I will never forget the excellent care I experienced firsthand.

Naomi Judd on Betty White, Girlfriends and Her New Hallmark Movie Nearlyweds

DirecTV – January 11, 2013 We had the chance to talk Grammy-award winner Naomi Judd during her whirlwind media tour in New York City for her Hallmark Channel original movie, Nearlyweds. In the movie, Judd plays a monster-in-law to one of three best girlfriends who find out that their marriage licenses were never signed. The women must decide if their marriages are worth fixing or if the oversight was a blessing in disguise. Based on Beth Kendrick’s novel of the same name, Nearlyweds also stars Danielle Panabaker, as Judd’s daughter-in-law, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Britt Irvin, Ryan Kennedy, Travis Milne and Steve Bacic. Nearlyweds premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Sataurday, January 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. How did you get involved with Nearlyweds? Naomi Judd: They asked me [laughs]. When I read the part and realized I’d get to play someone I’m not, a helicopter mom that just hovers – she’s really not a mother, she’s a smother. I may have been that once upon a time, so it’s fun for me. I don’t like my son’s future wife [in the movie] so I’m just awful to her. It’s kind of like Betty White on a bad drunk. That was my motivation. I was flashing back to my days of PMS, so that worked. Back in those days, were you ever as bad as a helicopter mom as your character in this movie? NJ: Oh, no. Carl Young says that all of us have a shadow personality and I guess that’s what I was getting into. The whole experience of being part of a team is my favorite thing. You just become a family and I just love that. That was one of the reasons that I did this. It’s familiar to me because I lived on the road with about 50 guys. We’d be out on tour and it was like this big traveling circus – this caravan. But I absolutely loved when everybody was at their personal best and everything was working and clicking. And this is a big ensemble cast. NJ: Yeah, it was. The hair and makeup girls became my best friends and they still write to me even though they’re up in Vancouver. Every day is so important to me, and if it ain’t fun it ain’t done. It just turned out to be a hoot and on the last day, everyone was sort of depressed. “Aw, can’t we do one more scene.” What drew you acting in the first place? NJ: They asked me and at first I went, “You called the wrong Judd.” And then I went, “Wait a minute…” I’m such a daredevil and a stimulus seeker, so I decided to try it. I’m such a stimulus seeker, I would love to be part of a SWAT team [laughs]. So, the whole [acting] experience appeals to me and then to get to work with people who are gifted, that really makes me happy. I am so pleased with the movie. When I watched it, I think I smiled the whole time. And it’s funny. One of the things I enjoyed was the camaraderie between the three girls [who play the best friends]. I found that very endearing. Girlfriends are just so important, especially in this day and age when people don’t connect as much as they should. So I was proud to be part of this. Is there any specific scene in the movie that’s your favorite? NJ: The last one. We were way over time-wise, production-wise and the producer was pulling his hair out. It’s one o’clock in the morning, which means we’re way over union time and the money and the clock are ticking. It’s last night of the whole shoot and everybody is not walking, they’re stumbling. Their eyes are all bloodshot and the coffee’s gone. It’s the last scene and it’s mine and I’m lying on the couch and I look up and [the crew is] eight feet from my face — people don’t realize that. If you do a scene where you’re supposed to be alone, you are so not alone. There’s 30 people within arm’s length of you. I’m lying there and I look up at my buddies, and I said, “Okay. What’s it worth to you guys if I get this on the first take?” So somebody pulled out a bowl and they all started throwing five dollar bills in it [laughs]. Then I got tickled and I said, “Okay, I gotta be serious. This is real.” Did you nail it? NJ: I did! But I do have to be very careful because once I start laughing, I can’t stop. I’ve done that on stage… I’ve done that so many times. That night I was sympathetic towards the whole crew and the producer. You’re in New York right now doing press for the movie. What’s your favorite thing to do when you go to the big city? NJ: Interesting question. I think just seeing everybody. I met Piers Morgan last night. He’s one of the few people I’ve never met and boy did I throw him a curve ball, which was great fun. How did he react to it? NJ: He loved it. I think he’s a fascinating guy. He’s so emotional. It’s always right below the surface. He processes very rapidly. He’s incredibly smart. I’m so interested in human behavior; I’ve been studying it for 20 years. Neuroscience is my passion and he’s awesome to observe because – you know that you have 41 facial muscles? I can hit mute on the TV and still watch him because of his body language. Eighty-five percent of our communication is non-verbal, so I just love these experiences of meeting different personalities. Last week when I was in LA, I did The Talk and I realized that Sharon Osbourne was the only celebrity I’d never met. Our conversation was pretty deep because of what she’s been through health-wise and the Mayo Clinic gave me three years to live in 1990. I’m a medically documented miracle now. She’s got two kids… we just had a lot to share. Sometimes when you meet people in these instances – it’s just the way I am, I just go straight to it. People will come up to me on the street or at the car wash or standing in line at the grocery store and it’s interesting because they don’t even tell me their names, they just go right into some connection. That’s very humbling to me. They seem to feel like they know me or trust me or can confide in me. I think because I’ve had such an adventurous life, there’s something that they connect with. And I love it because it’s our stories that connect us. How often to do you get approached when you’re out? NJ: Oh, [laughs] all the time. I know everybody at the Walgreens. I know the two ladies at the dry cleaners. I know half the people on Main Street. That’s my neighborhood. It’s probably great for them to have a celebrity in the neighborhood who’s just one of them. NJ: I think it’s fun for them to see me on TV because they never see me with makeup on or my hair brushed [laughs]. And I’m very blessed to have my circle of girlfriends. We call ourselves the Divine Ya-Yas. I don’t know what I would do without them. Tomorrow is my birthday. My girlfriends, of course, wanted to do something, because we always celebrate each other. But because I’ve been in New York, I’m going to need a day or two to myself just to process. But on Monday – and I know this sounds weird – we’re having a pot-luck dinner at my house and I’ve got a Red Cross volunteer coming over to teach everybody CPR. That’s my birthday [party]! [laughs] I’ll go home tomorrow and my husband is in Hawaii this week with the international Elvis fan club because it’s Elvis’s birthday week. He’s having a great time because he’s with the original Elvis crew. And Wynonna’s on her tour bus somewhere. But Ashley‘s next door, so she’ll come over and dote on me tomorrow. It’s nice that Ashley lives so close to you. NJ: Yeah, she lives up the road on the farm and Wynonna’s over the hill behind me on the farm. We have so much wilderness that we can’t see each other, which is important, but I can’t imagine not living that way. Especially when the girls travel so much. Go to Naomi’s Facebook page to stay in the loop!

Naomi Judd, Danielle Panabaker to Star in Hallmark Movie

"Rookie Blue's" Travis Milne to co-star in the cable network's "The Nearlyweds." Hollywood Reporter - 6/5/12 - by Leslie Goldberg Naomi Judd and Danielle Panabaker are bound for the Hallmark Channel. The actresses, along with Rookie Blue's Travis Milne, have been tapped to star in the cable network's TV movie The Nearlyweds, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.  The project revolves around three friends who have dream weddings only to find out that the pastor who married them failed to complete the key paperwork required to make them official. Panabaker (Piranha 3DD) will play Erin, whose husband David (Ryan Kennedy) invites his manipulative mother Renee to stay with the couple. Judd will play David's Monster-in-Law-type mother. Milne will play Nick, one of the other husbands. Aury Wallington will adapt Beth Kendrick's novel, with Bill Greenblatt and Kat Green on board to exec produce; Jamie Goehring will produce. The pic will premiere in January.   Go to Naomi’s Facebook page to stay in the loop

Naomi’s “Think Twice” Guest for Final Episode – Rick Ross

Don’t miss this Friday, July 20th for Naomi’s 6th and final episode of “Think Twice” as she addresses the hot topic of Scientology with cult expert and lecturer Rick Ross. Have a question for Naomi during the show?  Call 1-888-94-STARS (1-888-947-8277).  Or you can email Naomi at naomi@siriusxm.com. Go to Naomi’s Facebook page to stay in the loop about upcoming shows or follow her on Twitter (#TheNaomiJudd). This Week’s Guest Bio: Rick Ross is the founder and Executive Director of the Rick A. Ross Institute. He is an internationally known expert regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. Since 1982 he has been studying, researching and responding to the problems often posed by such groups or movements. He has personally assisted thousands of families in an effort to help the victims of destructive cults, groups and movements. Ross has been qualified and accepted as an expert witness and testified in court cases across the United States. He has also frequently assisted local and national law enforcement and government agencies. Rick Ross is one of the most readily recognized experts offering analysis about destructive cults, controversial groups and movements in the world today. He has been a paid consultant for the television networks CBS, CBC and Nippon of Japan. And also was retained as a technical consultant by Miramax/Disney. Ross' commentary has been quoted within publications such as Time, Newsweek, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe and The Washington Post. His appearances on national television have included a wide range of venues from news programs such as the "Today" show, "CNN World News," "Dateline", and "48 Hours" to popular interview shows such as "Oprah," "Dr. Phil" and "Inside Edition." Ross has lectured at such prestigious institutions as Dickinson College, the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, Baylor University, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Ross' analysis has been sought on virtually every major cult story for more than two decades.

Naomi’s “Think Twice” Guest for Episode 5 – Dr. Ted Klontz

Tune in tomorrow for "Think Twice" episode #5 for Naomi's in studio guest, accomplished researcher, psychologist, and her personal therapist Dr. Ted Klontz.  They will be taking your calls the entire hour to answer any questions on any subject.  You remain anonymous if you'd like.  Naomi will be offering her opinions as well.  Expect anything! Have a question for Naomi during the show?  Call 1-888-94-STARS (1-888-947-8277).  Or you can email Naomi at naomi@siriusxm.com. Go to Naomi’s Facebook page to stay in the loop about upcoming shows or follow her on Twitter (#TheNaomiJudd). This Week's Guest Bio: Recognized as a pioneer in the emerging field of financial psychology, Dr. Ted Klontz has his own private consulting practice in Nashville, TN working with individuals, couples, and families ranging from all walks of life including athletes, entertainers, heirs, entertainment companies and financial planning practices. His long list of credits also extends to publishing where he’s co-authored: Mind Over Money, The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge, Wired for Wealth, Facilitating Financial Health, and served as a contributing author of Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul, as well as numerous professional articles. He has shared his expertise on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live,  ABC News’ 20/20, ABC’s “Good to Know” and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Money magazine, CNN, Time, Parade, and The New York Times.