In the deeply personal Lifetime docuseries The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, Ashley Judd reflects on the complicated legacy of her mother, Naomi Judd, offering emotional insight into her family’s fame, mental health struggles, and the private pain behind public success.
For the first time in a major televised format, Ashley speaks candidly about why she never joined The Judds, her role in discovering Naomi’s body, and the healing that followed.
“I chose not to be in the band because I wanted to go to school, and that was very hard for my mom,” Ashley says in the documentary. “She wanted all three of us to be together, but I needed to be my own person.” Her words reflect the emotional balancing act she faced between personal ambition and family loyalty.
Ashley opens up with raw honesty about April 30, 2022 — the day her mother died by suicide at age 76. “I walked into her bedroom and I found her,” she recounts through tears. “I have both grief and trauma from that day.” Her voice becomes a grounding element of the series, humanizing a story that has often been tabloid fodder.
She also addresses the swirling rumors of a family feud, particularly over Naomi’s will. “Wynonna and I are not fighting,” she insists. “We’ve had disagreements, like all sisters do, but the idea that we’re in some sort of war over our mother’s estate is just false. In fact, we’ve become closer.”
Wynonna echoes that sentiment in the docuseries, saying: “I love my sister. I will always love my sister. And we are united in grief.” Their mutual support is portrayed as one of the documentary’s most powerful through-lines.
Ashley also talks about growing up in a home with a parent battling depression and the lasting impact it had on her. “She was fragile, and yet she was also so strong,” Ashley says of Naomi. “There was so much more to her than people saw on stage. That’s why telling the truth now matters.”
Throughout The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, Ashley Judd’s voice emerges as both protector and truth-teller — someone committed to honoring her mother’s legacy while facing the full complexity of it. Her reflections invite viewers to move beyond the headlines and into a deeper, more compassionate understanding of Naomi Judd’s life, loss, and the family she left behind.
The four-episode event began on Saturday, May 10, only on Lifetime.
