In The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, sisters Wynonna and Ashley Judd share deeply personal reflections on their mother Naomi Judd’s life, struggles, and the complex legacy she left behind. The Lifetime docuseries, which premiered on May 10, delves into Naomi’s early dreams of stardom and the emotional toll of her rise to fame.
Wynonna recalled how performing on stage became Naomi’s escape, describing it as her “drug of choice.” While Naomi found success in the spotlight, her daughters revealed she was privately battling severe mental health issues and long-standing emotional wounds.
Ashley noted that their mother lived with “a constellation of sufferings and with a secret,” highlighting how shame and silence played a major role in their family dynamics. She said, “We’re only as sick as our secrets,” underscoring the psychological burden Naomi carried for most of her life.
Wynonna admitted that she wasn’t fully aware of how much her mother was struggling before her suicide in April 2022. “One of the things I didn’t know is how much she struggled on the couch,” she said. “I was so caught up in my own success.” She believes trauma, especially generational trauma, contributed to Naomi’s death.
The sisters also opened up about Naomi’s complicated relationship with her own mother, whom Wynonna described as harsh and critical. Naomi reportedly sought approval from her mother, Nonna, and never fully received it.
Ashley revealed that Naomi became pregnant with Wynonna at 17 and later married Michael Ciminella, whom she falsely told was Wynonna’s biological father. He accepted the role, raising her as his own.
Ashley, who chose acting over music, said she never felt called to be part of her mother and sister’s musical world. While she was present in her own way, she struggled with depression from a young age, describing moments in her childhood when she couldn’t even tell whether it was night or day.
Family roles often became blurred. Ashley once told Naomi that she felt like Wynonna was her real mother—a comment that brought Naomi to tears. Wynonna said she didn’t feel allowed to be a child, as she was burdened with responsibilities early on.
Wynonna also discussed her emotional relationship with food, using it as a form of self-soothing. Though it offered temporary relief, she admitted it ultimately didn’t help in the long run.
The docuseries reveals a family shaped by pain, survival, and deep emotional complexity. Rather than vilifying Naomi, both daughters speak with empathy and honesty, acknowledging her struggles while also reflecting on their own roles in the family’s shared history. Ashley noted, “My experience of my mother is meant as a description, not a criticism.”
