Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Wynonna Judd Reveals She’s Raising Her Granddaughter After Daughter’s Legal Troubles

Wynonna Judd raising her granddaughter Kaliyah as her daughter Grace Kelley navigates ongoing legal challenges.
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

In two weeks, Wynonna Judd’s world changed forever. She lost her mother. She became a grandmother. And somewhere in the middle of grief and joy, she stepped into a role she never expected—raising her granddaughter, Kaliyah. At the same time, her daughter, Grace Kelley, battled legal troubles.

The country icon has always been known for her resilience, but this chapter of her life is different. It’s quieter, rooted in family, and, for the first time in decades, she’s learning what it means to slow down.

During a heartfelt conversation on Today with Jenna & Friends, Wynonna Judd opened up about the simple joys of life on her Tennessee farm, the challenges of raising a toddler at 60, and the unexpected ways motherhood is coming full circle.

She laughed about the realities of grandparent life, admitting that she rarely watches TV—unless it’s for Kaliyah. “I don’t watch television unless it’s planned for the 2-year-old,” she joked. Cartoons don’t hold Kaliyah’s attention, but Ms. Rachel, the beloved YouTube educator, certainly does. “I’m about to lose my mind,” Wynonna said with a grin before admitting that while she admired Ms. Rachel’s energy, she could never be that animated.

But a deeper shift is happening beyond screen time and toddler routines. Life at home is simpler now, and that’s exactly how she wants it. “We don’t do phones at dinner,” she shared. “And I do what I have to do to learn how to just live off the road. ‘Cause I was on the road at 17, so I never got to learn how to do life outside of show business. Food, family, and fun is my goal.”

Her farm in Tennessee has become a sanctuary. Evenings are spent walking barefoot in the fields, Kaliyah’s tiny hand in hers, the little girl giggling as she watches the horses. The noise of the world—tour schedules, flashing lights, sold-out arenas—has been replaced with something far more precious: the sound of her granddaughter’s laughter.

The role of caretaker wasn’t something Wynonna planned for. Still, it became necessary as Grace Kelley, 28, struggled with legal issues. Grace’s troubles began in 2015 with drug-related charges. In recent years, she’s faced multiple arrests, from fleeing police to indecent exposure. The details are heartbreaking, but Wynonna isn’t dwelling on them.

“You never stop being a mother,” she once said. “You just learn how to love from a distance.”

That distance hasn’t been easy, but it’s only made Wynonna more determined to provide Kaliyah with the stability she deserves. While she’s no stranger to hardship, she’s choosing to focus on what she can control—creating a home filled with love, laughter, and music.

Because, of course, there is music. It’s woven into everything she does. These days, it’s not arena anthems or chart-topping hits—it’s lullabies before bedtime, softly sung melodies as Kaliyah drifts off to sleep.

Wynonna may have spent a lifetime on the road, but she’s exactly where she’s meant to be right now.

Latest Stories

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...

Jana Kramer with husband Allan Russell and her kids outdoors, not taken when she admitted she sometimes skips sunscreen.

Jana Kramer Admits She Skips Sunscreen Sometimes on Her Kids and Feels Fine About It

“Come at me.” That’s Jana Kramer’s whole vibe right now, and boy, they sure are. Turns out you don’t have to drop a scandalous album or torch an ex on ...

Kenny Rogers’ twin sons Justin and Jordan just turned 21 and fans say they look just like the late country music legend now.

Kenny Rogers’ Twin Sons Just Turned 21 and Fans Say They Look Just Like Him Now

A couple of chocolate cakes, two wide grins, and a whole lot of “They look just like their daddy”. That’s how Kenny Rogers’ twin sons rang in their milestone 21st ...

Waylon Jennings once called Garth Brooks the most insincere person he ever saw

Waylon Jennings Once Said Garth Brooks Was the Most Insincere Person He Ever Saw

Sometimes you need an old outlaw to call out what everyone else is too polite to say out loud. Back when Nashville was shape-shifting in the ’80s and ’90s, country ...

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...