Wynonna Judd discusses estrangement from sister Ashley and family struggles

<p>Wynonna Judd has shared that she and her sister Ashley Judd are currently not in communication, indicating that they are not "connected" at this time and are focusing on their individual lives. "We’re taking a break, which all families can relate to," Wynonna stated in an interview with People. "She’s doing her thing, and I’m doing mine."</p><p>This disclosure comes as Wynonna prepares to release her new album, titled "The Hard Truth," on October 2. The album has prompted her to address her complex relationship with her late mother, Naomi Judd, as well as family secrets and her experiences with anger and forgiveness over the years. Wynonna expressed, "I feel like this is the most honest and vulnerable I’ve ever been." She noted that while she sometimes questions her decision to share such personal content, she believes there comes a time when one is ready to share their story.</p><p>Wynonna co-wrote the album with her husband, Cactus Moser, who encouraged her to embrace vulnerability in her music. Wynonna rose to fame as part of the mother-daughter duo The Judds, who were prominent in the country music scene during the 1980s, achieving 20 Top 10 hits, including 14 No. 1 singles, and winning multiple awards.</p><p>Despite their success, Wynonna described her relationship with Naomi as one filled with both love and turmoil. She acknowledged that Naomi struggled with severe depression before her death by suicide in April 2022 at the age of 76. Wynonna reflected on the impact of keeping her mother's struggles a secret, stating, "My mother had an illness, she had a disease. I kept the secret, and I was devastated by that."</p><p>Wynonna clarified that her mother's death did not prompt her to share her story; she would have done so regardless. However, she recognized that revealing her feelings might have been painful for Naomi, stating, "I think it would be very painful for her. Very painful. But I also know that she knows me, that I’m so honest and so up-front."</p>