Wynonna and Ashley Judd confront family trauma and Naomi Judd’s legacy in emotional Lifetime docuseries

Country music star Wynonna Judd and actress Ashley Judd are opening up like never before in The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, a deeply personal Lifetime docuseries exploring their late mother Naomi Judd’s life, mental health battles, and the family’s complex history.

The four-part series, which premiered on May 10, chronicles Naomi’s ascent to country music fame, the pain she endured privately, and the impact her struggles had on her daughters. “She loved that feeling that she got in that moment [on stage],” Wynonna shared. “It hooked her, and I think that became her drug of choice.”

Ashley Judd recalled the emotional cost behind Naomi’s public persona, saying, “Mother lived with a constellation of sufferings and with a secret,” revealing the duality of fame and family tension. Both sisters reflected on their painful upbringing, with Wynonna confronting an abusive figure from Naomi’s life and Ashley addressing years of emotional neglect.

Wynonna, who partnered musically with Naomi as The Judds, admitted to feelings of regret for not recognizing the severity of her mother’s mental health issues. “We didn’t know how much she was really hurting,” she said.

Ashley explained her decision not to join the family’s musical path, saying she lacked both interest and joy in music. “I look as miserable as it sounded,” she joked, referencing an old photo of herself playing the fiddle. She instead found her calling in acting, though she remained emotionally tethered to her family’s journey.

The series also delves into Naomi’s relationship with her own mother, her parenting struggles, and the inherited trauma passed down through generations. Viewers see how Wynonna, often forced into a parental role herself, coped through emotional withdrawal and food.

The Judd Family: Truth Be Told continues on Lifetime on May 11, offering fans an unfiltered look at fame, loss, healing—and the enduring bonds of family.