Wynonna Judd’s Daughter Grace Kelley Speaks Out on Her Difficult Childhood – Here’s What She Said
Growing up in a well-known household meant being “swept under the rug,” according to the country music star’s 28-year-old daughter, with abuse concealed behind notoriety, silence, and a polished façade.
Country music artist Wynonna Judd’s daughter, Grace Kelley, is talking out about her difficult upbringing and the journey that brought her to faith, healing, and recovery.
In a July 2025 interview with The Daily Progress, Kelley disclosed that she battled drug addiction, mental health issues, and familial problems while being housed in 14 different facilities between the ages of 12 and 17.
She went on, “My story is so messed up,” Despite being raised in Tennessee and exposed to church doctrine, Kelley’s upbringing did not align with these ideals.
Kelley claimed that her personal life was far from steady despite the fact that her family was well-known. Both her late grandmother, Naomi Judd, and her 61-year-old mother were Grammy-winning country musicians who were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Ashley Judd, her aunt, is a well-known actress who has starred in several high-profile motion pictures, such as “Heat,” “Kiss the Girls,” and “Double Jeopardy.”
Nevertheless, Kelley claimed that being raised in a well-known household did not protect her from domestic abuse. She said that as a youngster, she was molested by her stepfather, D.R. Roach, who was Judd’s former bodyguard and spouse.
Her mother’s first reaction, according to Kelley, was to gather the family for therapy. She claimed that after the abuse was revealed during a session, others recognized how serious the issue was and made the decision to notify the police.
In 2007, Roach was taken into custody. At the time, Kelley was just ten years old. Later, Roach entered a guilty plea to the charge of attempted aggravated sexual violence. According to Kelley, her mother didn’t petition for divorce until after the arrest was made public.
Looking back on that time, Kelley asked, “So, is my mom wealthy? Yes, she’s so wealthy that she was able to ignore me, mistreat me, and then hide everything. I don’t want to criticize my mother, but let’s just say that she does well. She never had children.
In a January 2025 interview on “Today with Jenna & Friends” hosted by Jenna Bush Hager, Judd mentioned her work as a caretaker in passing, despite the fact that she has not officially denied her daughter’s allegations.
“A computer is not anything I own. I don’t watch TV unless it’s scheduled because I’m raising my granddaughter, who is 2 1/2 years old, and I listen to her,” Judd added, mentioning that her granddaughter watches a well-known children’s YouTube show with Ms. Rachel.
Judd concentrated on providing care, while Kelley was dealing with a number of personal and legal issues. She was imprisoned in Tennessee in May 2023 for breaking her parole and a protective order.
She was arrested in Alabama in April 2024, over a year later, on misdemeanor counts of disrupting government operations and indecent exposure. She allegedly refused to comply with police after exposing herself at a busy Millbrook crossroads.
Then, in August of the same year, she was arrested in Georgia and accused of using inappropriate motorbike equipment, driving with a suspended license, and evading police. Later, she was freed on bond of $2,750.
The arrest of Kelley following an odd event involving a church vehicle in Charlottesville in October 2024 marked a turning point.
She went inside a trailer attached to a Ground Zero Church of the Nazarene van while under the influence of drugs, according to The Daily Progress. She claimed to have dozed off throughout the ride and was unaware that the trailer was church property.
Kent Hart, the pastor of the church, unintentionally took her to his Scottsville residence. Kelley woke up when he got out, became frantic, and took the van and drove away. She was later stopped by police, taken into custody, and charged with seven felonies.
She agreed to a plea agreement in December that reduced the counts to three: possession of drug paraphernalia, petty larceny, and drugged driving. She received a time-served sentence, which included around six weeks in jail. According to legal analyst David Heilberg, she should have adequate time to detox and begin making changes in her life.
Pastor Hart and his wife, Megan, reached out to Kelley on Facebook in contravention of a court order to avoid the church. Kelley was baptized earlier this year, and they welcomed her back. She continues to be sober and now goes to church.
Kelley said the couple’s support was crucial in her choice to change her life and stay sober, and she thanked them with helping her break the cycle of addiction.
She had been relocating frequently and running afoul of the law in multiple places before to meeting the Harts. She arrived in Charlottesville with the intention of forming a romance, but it ended quickly.
“My entire life, the reason I travel so much is I was looking for home…,” Kelley remarked, reflecting on her travels, adding that she had been searching for a sense of belonging for years.However, ever since I arrived in Charlottesville and committed my life to God—my goodness, it’s breathtaking. I adore this place.
