Who Are Naomi Judd’s Children? Meet Wynonna and Ashley Judd Who Are Also Famous

Naomi Judd formed a musical duo with her daughter, Wynonna, while her other child became a well-known actress. Here’s a look at her children’s successes.

Naomi Judd was undoubtedly a talented singer, but behind the scenes, she was also a loving mother to two children, Wynonna and Ashley.

For years, Wynonna believed that she shared the same father as her sister, Michael Ciminella, but it turned out that her biological dad was Judd’s ex-lover, Charles Jordan.

Wynonna learned the truth in the early ’90s. “I had a choice,” she said. “I had to decide whether I was better or bitter, and in music, that’s what we do. We talk about the hard stuff.”

WYNONNA JUDD IS ALSO A FAMOUS SINGER

Born in May 1964, Wynonna found herself liking country music from a young age. When her family moved to Nashville to pursue a music career, the aspiring singer slowly became a star.

It was then that her mother changed her name from Diana to Naomi, and Wynonna, born Christina Claire Siminella, followed suit soon after. In 1983, Naomi and Wynonna formed a musical duo, The Judds, under RCA Records.

Together, they released seven albums and 26 singles, of which 14 secured a number one spot. Although they disbanded in 1991, Wynonna continued to have a successful music career.

Naomi was not open to her daughter about her mental health despite their close relationship. She struggled with depression and only told her daughter after spending over a week in a psychiatric ward. Naomi said:

“Wynonna and I make each other so emotional it’s not healthy. We are so empathic; we can look at each other and absolutely fall in each other’s arms, crying without saying a word. We scare each other because we can go so deep.”

Naomi Judd at the 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV. | Source: Getty Images

WHAT HAPPENED TO ASHLEY JUDD

Naomi also had a good relationship with her younger daughter, Ashley, whom she shared with her first husband. Ashley also joined the entertainment industry but focused on acting. Some of her works include “Ruby in Paradise,” “Double Jeopardy,” “Heat,” “Divergent,” and “Where the Heart Is.”

Aside from her career, Ashley focuses on her humanitarian work, fighting for women’s rights, gender equality, and poverty, among others. Although they did not have children, she was once married to Dario Franchitti.

In 2021, Ashley experienced a devastating accident that shattered her leg in four places. It took the actress months to rehabilitate and walk again.

NAOMI JUDD’S DEATH

Sadly, Wynonna and Ashley lost their mother at the age of 76. They released a statement following her death but did not specify the cause and place of her passing. They said:

“Today[,] we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by the public.”

Naomi Judd during “Varney & Co” at Fox News Channel Studios on December 8, 2017 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

They revealed that Naomi passed away from a mental illness but did not specify further. Several celebrities dealt with depression in the past as well, including Marie Osmond, who lost her son in the same battle.

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