Wynonna and Ashley Judd Reflect on Their Bond and Their Late Mother, Naomi
In the Lifetime docuseries The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, Wynonna and Ashley Judd are seen to be deeply emotional as they talk about their complex relationship with their late mother, Naomi Judd. Airing on May 10 and 11, the sisters express their experience of growing up, the influence of fame, and the agony of Naomi’s passing away by suicide in April 2022 without a shadow of a doubt.
Ashley told them that she was very proud of her mother and sister’s success as The Judds, while Wynonna confessed that their very close relationship was a burden for her and that it was also a blessing. Despite past challenges, Naomi’s death brought the sisters closer than ever before.
Tragedy Brought the Family Together
Naomi’s widower, Larry Strickland, echoed this sentiment, saying the tragedy forced the family to come together. “We all had to come together around this trauma,” he said. “It reminded us how short and fleeting life is. Losing Naomi pushed us to reconnect — whether we were ready or not.”
Childhood Roots in Kentucky and Tennessee
Wynonna was born in 1964 in Kentucky to Naomi by her boyfriend Charles Jordan. After he went away, there was a marriage between Naomi and Michael Ciminella, who then had Ashley in 1968.The family moved briefly to Los Angeles before Naomi divorced Ciminella and returned to Kentucky with her daughters in 1976. Eventually, they moved to Nashville to chase Naomi and Wynonna’s country music dreams.
Wynonna Was Like a Second Mom to Ashley
Growing up, Ashley saw Wynonna as more than just a sister — she called her “Sister Mommy.” Wynonna explained in a 2015 interview that their dynamic was shaped by circumstances. “I didn’t want to be her mom. I wanted to be her sister. But I was famous at 18. I wasn’t there for her prom. I wasn’t there like a sister should be.” They drifted apart during their teenage years, and Wynonna acknowledged that Ashley became emotionally independent by age 14, likely out of necessity.
Life on the Family Farm
For years, all three Judd women lived near each other on a shared property Naomi called “Peaceful Valley.” Purchased in 1995, the Nashville farm had Ashley just a minute away and Wynonna six minutes down the road. Wynonna moved there with her two kids in 2012. Despite differences, this setup kept them close in proximity, even if not always emotionally.
Their Individual Relationships with Naomi
Wynonna and Naomi shared the stage as The Judds, building a successful music career. But their relationship wasn’t always easy. After their final tour in 2010, they had a falling out and stopped talking. Naomi admitted in a 2016 interview that raising Wynonna was difficult, partly because she was her first child and Naomi was still learning how to be a mom. “With Wy, it was the two of us against the world. I made mistakes, and she bore the brunt of them,” Naomi said. “I always told her, ‘If I’d known better, I would’ve done better.’” With Ashley, Naomi found more common ground. “We’re so alike. We both love to read, we love discovering new places,” she shared.
Wynonna Stepped Up When Ashley Needed Help
In 2021, Ashley got a really bad injury on her leg while hiking in the Congo. During her very extended recuperation process, she heavily relied on her elder sister for comfort — she would even frequently ask Wynonna to assist her with hair washing.
“Exactly what big sisters are for,” Wynonna remarked. “She requested it, and I did my best to arrange it.”
No Feud — Just Healing
After Naomi’s passing, rumors surfaced that Wynonna and Ashley were fighting over their mother’s estate. But Wynonna quickly shut those down. “There’s no argument,” she told PEOPLE. “Why would we fight over the will? We both have great lives. We’re just supporting each other through this loss.”
She added that being orphaned actually made them come together in a stronger way. “It’s not the success or intelligence that matters but the love, understanding, and the support for one another.”.
By having a life coach, the young ladies were able to improve their relationship and became more connected, through the skills of “communication, compromise, and compassion.”Wynonna now describes her relationship with Ashley as “the most powerful” in her life.
Growing Closer Through Grief
Ashley echoed this growth during an episode of the Healing with David Kessler podcast.She mentioned that despite the fact that she and Wynonna are in different stages of grieving, they are discovering new ways to help each other.“She came over, spent the day and the night. We talked about Mom, social issues — she even gave me a foot rub,” Ashley said. “We don’t have to be in the same emotional place to have compassion for each other. That’s a grace families need to learn.”
