American Idol season 22: Who is Wynonna Judd? Age, personal details, and more explored

After Wynonna Judd made an appearance on the recent American Idol season 22 finale, which aired on Sunday, May 19, viewers have been curious about her. Country music enthusiasts might already know her for the feats she has achieved alone and alongside her mother Naomi Judd.

Wynonna and her mother Naomi were together called The Judds and they put out several chart-busting country tracks in the late 80s and early 90s. Two of those even won them the prestigious Grammy awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with vocals.

In her recent appearance on American Idol, Wynonna was paired up with country music star Emmy Russell. Together, they sang Coal Miner's Daughter by Emmy's grandmother Loretta Lynn, and No One Else on Earth by Wynonna.

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Wynonna Judd is a Grammy Award winner

Wynonna Judd was born on May 30, 1964, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her birth name was Christina Claire Siminella, which she later changed to Wynonna after the release of her hit (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, which mentioned the town of Winona in Arizona.

Wynonna's mother Naomi always wanted to be a singer since she was a child. However, after she got pregnant with Wynonna at the age of 17, she had to put her musical prospects on a back seat. Naomi had to support her family by doing odd jobs after divorcing her husband in 1972. But as young Wynonna grew, Naomi rekindled her interest in country music.

The mother-daughter duo had similar taste in music and thought alike when it came to making music, and when Wynonna came of age, they started singing together. They made small appearances on TV and radio for years before their first-ever recorded single, Had a Dream (For the Heart), made it to the Billboard Country Singles Chart in 1983.

Their next two songs, Mama He’s Crazy and Why Not Me, won the Grammy Awards in 1984. The Judds quickly became an integral part of the Country Music Industry and even won the Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year award for seven consecutive years from 1985 to 1991.

After Naomi was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, Wynonna continued her music career on her own. The song No One Else on Earth which she sang with Emmy Russell on American Idol was one of her early solo hits which made it to the Country Music Billboards.

Wynonna also happened to write a book called Coming Home to Myself, which was published in 2005. She was also a contestant on Dancing With the Stars season 16, which aired in 2013.

The Judds toured in 2000, then again in 2010-11, which was portrayed in their own TV show called The Judds. They were supposed to go on tour again in 2022 but Naomi's untimely death prevented that.

Wynonna does several solo tours since.

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Wynonna Judd's personal life

Wynonna Judd's first husband was the businessman Arch Kelley III, whom she married in 1996. They had two children together, but after the birth of their second child, they divorced in 1998.

Wynonna then married her former bodyguard D. R. Roach in November 2003. D. R. was then arrested for s*xually assaulting a 13-year-old in March 2007, post which Wynonna filed for divorce.

In June 2012, Wynonna married Scott "Cactus" Moser, the drummer of Highway 101. In August of the same year, Scott had an accident that gave him severe injuries, leading to his left leg being amputated.

Wynonna Judd is also a sister to actress Ashley Judd.

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American Idol has been renewed for season 23, which is likely to be released in 2025.