Grace Kelley, Wynonna Judd’s Daughter, Shares the Struggles She Faced Growing Up—Her Story

Grace Kelley, 28, is the daughter of country star Wynonna Judd. She says that her childhood was more affected by trauma than by fame. Even though her family was well-known, she says her childhood was full of silence, problems, and pain.

Kelley went to 14 different places between the ages of 12 and 17 because she was having trouble with addiction and her mental health. In an interview in July 2025, she said, “My story is so messed up,” looking back on a rough adolescence full of instability.

Kelley says that even though she grew up in church, her home life didn’t always reflect the values that were taught there. Fame didn’t help with the problems that were going on in the family.

Kelley said that her former stepfather, D.R. Roach, who was Judd’s ex-husband and long-time bodyguard, sexually abused her when she was a child. He was arrested in 2007 when she was only 10 years old and later admitted to trying to commit aggravated sexual battery. Kelley says that her mother only divorced him after the case became public.

Her problems got worse as she became an adult. Kelley was arrested several times between 2023 and 2024 for breaking her parole, exposing herself in public, running from the police, and drug offenses. This was part of a cycle of chaos and instability.

A drug-fueled event in Charlottesville in October 2024 led to her arrest, which was a turning point for her. She had six weeks in jail and a plea deal that gave her time to get clean and start dealing with her addictions.

Kelley met Pastor Kent Hart and his wife Megan during this time. They helped her find faith and stability. She was baptized in 2025, which changed her life and how she saw things in a big way.

Kelley now lives in Charlottesville, which she calls her real home. “Since I gave my life to God, everything has been so beautiful. She said, “I love it here,” and she was looking forward to a future based on faith and renewal.