The word on Wynonna is just that - one word, a single name.
Not Wynonna Judd - she's no longer known solely as the shy, protected younger half of the mother-daughter dynamic country duo the Judds.No, now it's just Wynonna.
It's simple - and it's symbolic of having arrived in the entertainment or sports worlds, to be known by just one name, a la country peers Garth and Reba. To be mentioned in similar single-name fashion as megastars Oprah and Shaq. In short, to be a target of supermarket tabloids, as Wynonna has been in recent years.
OK, so dropping the surname was really a calculated marketing move. Look in a Nashville phone directory and you'll have better success finding Wynonna Inc. than Wynonna Judd.
No matter, since the early thirtysomething Kentucky native has finally made the transition, having broken free emotionally from Mama Naomi's apron strings, which served not so much as a restrictive leash as they did a safety net of sorts during the early years.
But the Grammy-winning Judds were forced into retirement a half-decade ago as Naomi Judd battled life-threatening hepatitis. Wynonna went solo, with the self-titled album that went multi-platinum (4 million sold) and unleashed three No. 1 hits - "She Is His Only Need," "I Saw The Light" and "My Strongest Weakness."
A year later, her second album - "Tell Me Why" - reached platinum status and included a foursome of hits ("No One Else On Earth," the title track, "Rock Bottom" and "Only Love") that reached either No. 1 or 2.
No Naomi, no problems? Not so.
Battling depression as well as concerns of self-confidence and self-assurance, Wynonna took leave from the road for a year and from the studio even longer. There were issues to resolve - the birth of her son, Elijah; the delayed marriage to businessman Arch Kelley; and worries of her worthiness. She had become, as she calls it, a performing "orphan."
The time off has worked wonders for Wynonna, who returns with personal resolve and a willingness to offer some revelations. In fact, her 1996 album effort - her first in three years - is titled "revelations" and offers a window of sorts to her soul.
In the 10-track disc, Wynonna is seemingly confident and comfortable with herself. She continues with her knack to fuse country, rock, R&B and adult-contemporary elements together - even with some evangelical-overtone lyrics. Besides singing selections from the likes of Mike Reid and Delbert McClinton, Wynonna's fare includes Lulu and Lynyrd Skynyrd - the latter being a cover of "Free Bird."
Wynonna is becoming her own woman and is enjoying every step of the way. In February she had her own TV special on CBS and invited pop diva Bette Midler along - because Wynonna says she likes her spunk and personality.
And in March, she opened the first segment of a two-year tour - with a summer sabbatical for the birth of daughter Judd Kelley. The touring has resumed this fall, and concert reviews invoking the collective labels of part Cline, part Raitt, part Aretha and part Elvis.
Cline, Raitt, Aretha, Elvis - Wynonna is finding herself in some pretty good single-name company.
- Wynonna will perform in concert Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the David O. McKay Events Center at Utah Valley State College. Opening will be BlackHawk.