Wynonna and Ashley Judd share personal and previously private memories of their late mother Naomi Judd in the Lifetime docuseries The Judd Family: Truth Be Told.
The four-part series, which began airing on May 10, covers Naomi’s rise to stardom, her mental health struggles, and the emotional legacy left behind after her death in 2022.
The first two episodes document Naomi's early ambition to succeed in country music, a drive that shaped her life and relationships. “She loved that feeling that she got in that moment [of being on stage],” Wynonna said. “It hooked her, and I think that became her drug of choice.” While Naomi found success, Ashley recalled the cost behind closed doors: “Mother lived with a constellation of sufferings and with a secret.”
Wynonna reflected on her own regrets, admitting she was unaware of the extent of Naomi’s mental health challenges. Both sisters spoke candidly about difficult childhood experiences, including Wynonna’s confrontation with an abusive figure in Naomi’s life and Ashley’s reflections on emotional neglect.
Ashley explained why she never joined the family band, saying she never had the same musical passion: “I look as miserable as it sounded,” she remarked of an early photo of her playing the fiddle. Instead, her path led to acting, though she remained emotionally connected to the family’s journey.
Naomi’s complicated relationship with her mother, her own parenting style, and the generational trauma she carried are key themes explored in the series. The documentary also highlights how Wynonna took on a parental role, coping through food and emotional withdrawal.
The Judd Family: Truth Be Told continues on May 11 on Lifetime.
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