Do Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd have the same father? All we know about biological dads amid documentary release

With Wynonna Judd and her family set to get real in the upcoming Lifetime documentary series The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, many are taking a look back at the personal lives that led to the legendary country music dynasty. One persistent question among fans is the paternity of sisters Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd.

The short answer is no, the sisters are not biologically related. Wynonna Judd, also known as Christina Claire Ciminella, was born in 1964 and grew up with musician Michael Ciminella as her father figure.

Naomi Judd, who was then called Diana Judd, married Michael Ciminella after a breakup with her boyfriend Charles Jordan, who was actually Wynonna’s real father.

Wynonna Judd did not learn the truth about her paternity until she was an adult. In interviews, she has discussed the emotional toll of learning she was Charles Jordan’s daughter.

"I was 30-years-old and I found out, you know, part of my life that I thought, you know, this man who was my biological father is not. And it’s Ashley’s father... I had to decide whether I was better or bitter," She said in an interview with Fox News.

Jordan passed away in 2000, just before Wynonna Judd got the chance to contact him. On the other hand, Ashley Judd was born in 1968 and is the daughter of Naomi and Michael Ciminella. Ashley has stated several times that Ciminella has been a source of encouragement and a feminist like her.

Larry Strickland and Wynonna Judd open up about Naomi Judd's death and family struggles

Both Wynonna and Naomi Judd found success as a country music duo, The Judds, while Ashley chose an acting career. Apart from its success, the family faced many struggles, including Naomi’s struggle with mental illness.

In a joint statement, Wynonna and Ashley called their mother’s death a “tragedy” and added that they were heartbroken. Now, the family is giving an inside look at Naomi’s life and legacy in the upcoming Lifetime docuseries The Judd Family: Truth Be Told.

The series will supposedly delve into Naomi’s formative years, her quest for stardom, and the emotional struggles between the mother-daughter duo.

Naomi Judd’s suicide in April 2022 has supposedly united her family in the face of tragedy. Her husband, Larry Strickland, recently revealed that the tragedy “forced” Naomi’s daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, to become closer.

"We all had to come together around this trauma, this tragic event. And it, of course, opened our eyes about how short life can be and how fleeting." He told People Magazine.

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Wynonna Judd had also previously talked about the grief and how she felt more connected to her sister now. During a 2022 interview with CBS, she said:

"(Ashley and I) both kind of look at each other like, 'I've got you,' right? And we look at each other and we say, 'Yeah.' We're so united right now."

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