Ashley Judd Opens Up About Naomi Judd's Mental Health Struggles And Their 'Dysfunctional' Family

Jun 26, 2022 by apost team

Ashley Judd is an Emmy-nominated actress and a political activist raised in a family of talented artists. Her mother, Naomi Judd, and sister Wynonna Judd became famed country singers after creating the group The Judds. According to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the country music duo won five Grammy Awards, nine Country Music Association (CMA) awards, and seven Academy of Country Music awards.

In addition, the Grammy-winning country music group had twenty Top Ten country hits throughout their musical career. Although her mother and sister were traveling the world, accumulating fame and wealth, Ashley was left behind and lived with her father to continue schooling. 

Unlike her mother and sister, Ashley chose a different path to fame. In 1991, Ashley landed her first acting role as Ensign Robin Lefler, a Starfleet officer in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Although she only appeared in two episodes of the series, this exposure catapulted her acting career. Following her appearance on the series, Ashley landed a recurring role on the NBC series "Sisters." In 1992 she made her Hollywood debut in "Kuffs." Although the role was small, it launched her career, which spanned the course of 3 decades.

Bigger and better movie roles followed, and in 1993, she landed the role of a lifetime, the leading role of Ruby Lee Gissing in "Ruby in Paradise." She went on to star in numerous successful films. According to Wide Open Country, Ashley's most memorable roles include "Where the Heart Is," "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," and "Double Jeopardy."

On the outside, Ashley presented herself as the perfect woman, but the Hollywood star's obsession with perfection was a coping mechanism she learned from her rough upbringing. 

In an interview with Glamour, Ashley Judd opened up about her decision to check herself into the Shades of Hope Treatment Center, where her sister Wynonna was being treated. Although Ashley's treatment focused on her behavioral issues, the "Kiss the Girls" star told the outlet that her desire to be perfect started in her childhood. 

"Supposedly, my sister was the 'messed-up' one, and I was the 'perfect" one,'" Ashley said. "So I stayed out of trouble, making sure not to be a bother or a burden or to have needs, and that was damaging. A wonderful pastor I know once told me, 'Perfectionism is the highest order of self-abuse.' So now I try to remind myself that if I engage in perfectionism, I am abusing myself."

In her memoir "All That Is Bitter and Sweet," which was released in 2011, Ashley opened up about several traumatizing events from her childhood, including neglect and emotional and sexual abuse.

In an interview with Time, the film star described her family structure as "dysfunctional."

In the book, Judd recalled her mother Naomi Judd's wild and inappropriate relationship with Larry Strickland (who she refers to as Pop). 

"Mom and pop were wildly sexually inappropriate in front of my sister and me ... a horrific reality for me was that when pop was around I would have to listen to a lot of loud sex in a house with thin walls... I now know this situation is called covert sexual abuse," she wrote.

Although Ashley's memoir didn't paint her mother in the best light, Naomi was still supportive. In a statement received by Time, Naomi explained that she loves her daughter and wished her book well.

Judd lost her mother on Apr. 30, 2022. Although their relationship was complicated, their love for one another was undeniable. 

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The music industry was shocked by the death of Country music icon Naomi Judd. But nobody was more heavily impacted than her daughters, Ashley and Wynonna Judd. A month following Naomi's death, Ashley sat down with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America and revealed that Naomi died from suicide.

"She used a weapon … mother used a firearm," Ashley told Sawyer. "So that's the piece of information that we are very uncomfortable sharing."

Ashley explained her mother's battle with mental illness and how she spent her final days. 

"My mother knew that she was seen and she was heard in her anguish and that she was walked home," Ashley said. "When we're talking about mental illness, it's very important to be clear and to make the distinction between our loved one and the disease. It's very real and it is enough to … it lies, it's savage."

"I visit with my mom and pop every day when I'm home in Tennessee, so I was at the house visiting as I am every day. Mom said to me, 'Will you stay with me?' and I said, 'Of course, I will.'" Ashley went to greet one of her mother's friends; when she returned, she found her mother's body.

Although her mother's death was devastating, Ashley cherished their moments together.

"I really accepted the love my mother was capable of giving me, because I knew she was fragile," Judd said. "And every Time we hugged and she drank me in, I was very present for those tactile experiences. Because I knew there would come a time when she would be gone."

Ashley set up an altar in her home in memory of her mother. She shared on Instagram that she and her family gather around the altar to grieve and sing together.

Were you aware of the family dynamic between Ashley Judd and her late mother, Naomi Judd? Let us know your thoughts, and feel free to send this to your loved ones.

If you or anybody you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please call Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit befrienders.org to find your local suicide prevention hotline. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for you or your loved ones and best practices for professionals.