The Judds, one of country music’s most successful performing duos, started as a family. Naomi Judd, the matriarch, always did her best while raising her kids, even when they didn’t fully realize it. However, there was a significant truth that Naomi kept from Wynonna Judd about her birth father until later in life. Let’s uncover this intriguing story.
Wynonna Judd | Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
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When did Naomi Judd get pregnant with Wynonna Judd?
Naomi Judd became pregnant at the age of 17 while a high school senior. She lost her virginity, and her boyfriend at the time wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility of a child. He wished Naomi luck and walked away. Afterward, Naomi married Michael Ciminella and made the decision to raise the baby with him.
Wynonna, originally named Christina Claire Ciminella, was born in 1964. Ashley Judd, now a renowned actor, joined the family in 1968. Wynonna considered her sister’s arrival to be a precious gift that completed their family.
Who was Wynonna Judd’s birth father?
It wasn’t until 1994, when Wynonna turned 30, that she discovered her sister Ashley’s father wasn’t her biological father either. In an interview with Andy Cohen on his Radio Andy show, Wynonna revealed the unexpected truth. She explained, “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…”
Despite making plans to meet her birth father, Charles Jordan, they were unable to do so before his passing. However, Wynonna did meet her half-brother for the first time in 2020. He resides in Kentucky, just like Wynonna and Ashley, and is about three years younger than them.
It’s worth noting that Jordan and Ciminella weren’t the only father figures in Wynonna’s life. Naomi married Larry Strickland in 1989, and they remained married until Naomi’s tragic death by suicide in 2022. Strickland stood by her daughters’ side at her memorial service.
Why did Wynonna Judd sue the man she thought was her father?
In 2012, Wynonna filed a lawsuit against Ciminella, the man she believed was her father for three decades. According to Taste of Country, she accused her former stepfather of promising to repay $200,000 for a home he purchased in 1994.
The lawsuit claimed, “As of February 2012, the amount due under the Loan Documents in favor of Judd is $242,317, representing the principal balance, plus accrued interest and late fees. Interest continues to accrue at the maximum rate as set forth in the Loan Documents until paid in full.”
Ciminella’s legal team argued that the property was gifted to him. “It’s a shame that a daughter feels like she has to sue and evict her own father,” his lawyer stated. The outcome of Wynonna’s legal efforts remains unclear.
How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text HOME to 741-741 and speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
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