One of the most beautiful voices in music was silenced when Naomi Judd passed away Saturday.

Her equally famous daughters, Wynonna, Naomi’s singing partner in The Judds, and Ashley Judd, actress, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Naomi died at the age of 76 due to “the disease of mental illness.”

The family is offering an important public service by sharing the cause of its matriarch’s passing. The discussion of mental illness must continue to be brought to the forefront of conversation in our country.

In a previously scheduled event Sunday, The Judds were among the inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The ceremony went on despite Naomi’s death, which we agree was the best thing to do.

Naomi and Wynonna Judd were among the most popular duos of the 1980s, scoring 14 No. 1 hits during their nearly three-decade career. Daughters Wynonna and Ashley Judd accepted the induction amid tears, holding onto each other and reciting a Bible verse together.

“I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today,” Ashley Judd said of her mother to the crowd while crying Sunday night.

Wynonna Judd talked about the family gathering as they said goodbye to her and she and Ashley Judd recited Psalm 23.

“Though my heart is broken I will continue to sing,” Wynonna Judd said, which is a wonderful thing.

We offer our condolences to all who loved Naomi Judd, her family, of course, but millions of music fans around the world.

We hope her tragic passing will keep the conversation about mental illness going, something that is desperately needed.