Wynonna Judd has found healing where she least expected it. The country music icon, who has stood on stages packed with thousands, now finds the greatest peace in the presence of one tiny soul: her granddaughter, Kaliyah. In between bottle feedings and quiet bedtimes, Wynonna began to heal.
Wynonna, 60, became a grandmother in 2022 — the same year she lost her mother, Naomi Judd, to suicide. The grief was heavy. Her world turned upside down, but through the simple rhythm of daily life with her granddaughter, she discovered what she now calls “life after death.”
Wynonna Judd’s granddaughter gave her a new beginning
View this post on Instagram
Naomi Judd’s passing came as a shock. Most people, including her family, thought she was okay. Wynonna was on tour when it happened and, like many others, never saw it coming. But in the middle of that grief came a little girl who gave her a reason to hope again.
Wynonna became a grandmother after her daughter Grace Kelley welcomed Kaliyah in March 2022, just weeks before Naomi’s death. Now caring for Kaliyah full-time, Wynonna says her granddaughter has changed everything. “Now that I’m with my grandbaby 24/7, I’m learning there is life after death,” she shared on Circle Country’s Talking in Circles with Clint Black.
Wynonna Judd is adjusting to a new life
Raising a toddler at 60 wasn’t part of Wynonna’s plan, but plans change. With Grace facing legal troubles, Wynonna stepped in. “I don’t have a computer. I don’t watch television unless it’s planned, ’cause I’m raising my 2½-year-old granddaughter. I listen to her,” she said. “So I don’t really—I do a lot of Instagram.”
She’s no longer chasing tour dates or glued to screens. Instead, she’s reading bedtime stories, playing with toys, and adjusting to life with Ms. Rachel and Peppa Pig. Though she jokes about losing her mind watching kids’ shows, there’s real joy in her voice when she talks about Kaliyah.