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

Prison Reform: Wynonna Judd Advocates at the Whitehouse

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Country star Wynonna Judd recently took the matters of prison reform into her own hands, when she set up a meeting with White House officials to discuss the issue.

Wynonna, White House, Wynonna Judd My Strongest Weakness
Photo Credit: Wynonna Judd’s Official Facebook Page

Wynonna Goes to the White House

Wynonna, White House
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

During a White House event for the National Day of Prayer, Judd was front and center saying that it was really using this time to speak out for the “unloved [and] people who feel forgotten.” She also notes that her project with the White House marks “the beginning of a new chapter.”

Judd met with Brooke Rollins, a senior staffer in the  White House Office of American Innovation. Although she declined to disclose much of the details of her partnership, it is known that the meeting discussed criminal justice reform and ways the administration can continue to enhance reentry programs for inmates and curb the return-to-prison rate.

Wynonna’s Personal Passion

Wynonna Judd is no stranger to the issue. In fact, her passion for prison reform became very personal back in 2018 when her 22-year-old daughter, Grace Pauline Kelly received an 8-year sentence for breaking the terms of her probation for a 2017 drug charge.

Wynonna, White House
via Fox News

Back in 2018, the 22-year-old has been sent to the West Tennessee State Penitentiary. RadarOnline reports that the warrant for Grace Pauline Kelley, for probation violation, was issued on Nov. 22, 2017, after she left her court-mandated rehabilitation program on Nov. 19. Williamson County spokesperson explains:

“The defendant was terminated from the recovery court program on Nov. 21, 2017. A warrant for probation violation was … served on Dec. 16, 2017.”

Kelley’s probation was officially revoked on Feb. 8, 2018. Her official prison release date is now scheduled for Aug. 10, 2025, but she will be eligible for parole on Feb. 4, 2019, and will likely only serve 30 percent of her sentence.

In months since her daughter’s sentencing, the country superstar has worked closely with Hope for Prisoners, a nonprofit group that aims to reduce the recidivism rates by educating and training inmates.

Latest Stories

HARDY performing live onstage in the U.S., shown here during a past show, ahead of canceling the European leg of his Jim Bob World Tour to prioritize family and crew.

HARDY Cancels European Leg of Jim Bob World Tour Ahead of First-Ever Headlining Dates

The long-awaited European run for HARDY’s Jim Bob World Tour just hit the brakes, and fans across the pond are understandably bummed. On the morning of June 16, HARDY dropped ...

Billy Ray Cyrus stands on the red carpet in a black leather jacket and sunglasses, unintentionally becoming the center of family drama after Trace Cyrus called him out online.

Trace Cyrus Blasts Billy Ray for Skipping Grandma’s Funeral to Chase Fame and It’s About as Ugly as It Gets

When your son calls you “the l𝐚mest man to ever walk planet earth,” it’s safe to say things have gone past the point of no return. Trace Cyrus is not ...

Holly Dunn performs passionately under soft stage lights with her guitar in hand, capturing the emotion behind her heartfelt classic “Daddy’s Hands.”

Holly Dunn Wrote “Daddy’s Hands” for Her Dad and Somehow Spoke for an Entire Generation

This is the kind of song that makes grown men stare out the truck window in silence and pretend it’s just the pollen getting to them. When Holly Dunn wrote ...

Oliver Anthony belts out raw heartbreak in a dimly lit studio session, his face scrunched in pain, strumming a resonator guitar with the kind of fury only divorce can fuel.

Oliver Anthony Poured His Divorce Hell Into “Scornful Woman” and It’s Flat-Out Devastating

You can smell the smoke coming off this one before the first note even hits. Oliver Anthony isn’t one for PR gloss or neatly packaged pain. He’s raw, gravel-throated, and ...

Brad Paisley strums his guitar under a spotlight—looking like he’s about to sing the song that breaks every stepdad’s heart wide open. Not the original performance, but you can feel the same lump in your throat.

Brad Paisley’s “He Didn’t Have to Be” Is the Ultimate Tribute to Men Who Chose to Be Dad

It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you, then hits like a freight train made of soft memories and old regrets. Before Brad Paisley was co-hosting the CMAs ...

John Foster beams under the spotlight, guitar in hand—looking every bit like the guy who just sold out Baton Rouge in under an hour. Not from that night, but you get the vibe.

John Foster Sold Out Baton Rouge Show in 52 Minutes and Night Two Is Already Locked In

The tickets were gone faster than a cold beer in a Louisiana summer. That’s how fast 1,350 seats disappeared for John Foster’s August 2 show at The Texas Club in ...

Lainey Wilson, George Strait, and Chris Stapleton are featured in a celebratory graphic as the Grammys announce a new Traditional Country Album category, finally recognizing the roots of real country music.

Traditional Country Just Got Its Own Grammy Category and That’s a Win We’ve Waited Decades For

You can almost hear a fiddle crying out in joy from a dusty honky-tonk in Texas. The Recording Academy just handed traditional country music the kind of validation it’s been ...

Lauren Alaina and husband Cam Arnold cradle their newborn daughter Beni Doll Arnold in a hospital room, sharing a joyful family moment just after her birth on June 11.

Lauren Alaina and Husband Cam Arnold Welcome Their First Child, a Beautiful Baby Girl

One minute, she’s singing about “Getting Good,” and the next, she’s holding a baby on her chest, a tear-stained guitar in the corner, and a song she never planned to ...

Zach Bryan performs live on stage in a previous concert, wearing a sleeveless shirt and ball cap, as he announces a surprise $50 Red Rocks show set for August.

Zach Bryan Drops Surprise Red Rocks Show With a $50 Ticket Cap and a Promise to Keep It Real

While everyone else is out here selling pit passes for the price of a mortgage payment, Zach Bryan just dropped a $50 Red Rocks show like it was nothing. On ...

Mark Herndon plays drums on stage with a smile, wearing sunglasses and a bandana, representing his longtime role with country supergroup Alabama despite feeling like an outsider.

He Was Alabama’s Drummer for Years But Mark Herndon Says He Was Never Treated Like He Belonged

He played the beat behind the biggest country band in the world, but they made sure he knew his place. Off to the side. Mark Herndon was the guy in ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.