Ok, so I just spoke with Tier 2 support, and they are informing me that it wasn't due to the Software Update email that I received and suggesting that I take my drive to a data recovery specialist, which I have to pay for.
This is HARD TO BELIEVE as the drive just stopped working when I initiated that update install from WD's most recent email. I really don't think it was coincidence that the drive stopped working when I started the update from WD's email.
Not only that, there are other people on this support forum that ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE.
This is not a coincidence! Western Digital, please look into this, this is an issue on YOUR END.