Wynonna Judd Considers New Duet Partners

The Judds perform at the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field in Downtown Nashville Saturday, June 13 during the 2009 CMA Music Festival. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association.

June 15, 2009 — The Judds reunited on stage during Saturday’s CMA Music Festival concert at Nashville’s LP Field in an emotional procession that left Naomi Judd dabbing at tears after an enthusiastic response from more than 40,000 fans.

Naomi was forced to retire from regular performing after an early-‘90s bout with hepatitis C. Though she’s been cured, she’s never returned to her old routine.

Who might Wynonna be willing to sing with in her mom’s absence? During CNN’s "Larry King Live," Larry asked about teenager Miley Cyrus as a possible duet partner, which left Wy noncommittal.

"I would have to think about that one," she responded. "In my opinion, I don't care how successful you are and how much money you have and how many records you are selling, it has to make sense musically. I will tell you this, I'm supposed to talk to Tony Bennett in the next couple of days. Can we talk? I'm in that place, where I'm looking ahead and going, ‘OK, let's not forget Tony Bennett.’ Miley is important and she lives like five miles from me. If she called me, I would have her come to my house and do some chores, and then think about singing with her."

Tony Bennett would be a no-brainer for Wy, whose latest album, Sing: Chapter 1, features remakes of songs originated by Nat "King" Cole, Tammy Wynette and Dionne Warwick.

"Could you imagine?" Wy said. "I cried. I got the message from my manager and she said, ‘Tony would love to sing with you.’ I seriously started to cry. I said this is like a tabernacle thing. We have to not forget that Tony Bennett is the greatest."

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Judds’ first No. 1 hit. "Mama He’s Crazy" reached No. 1 in Billboard on Aug. 4, 1984.