A new Lifetime documentary, The Judd Family: Truth Be Told, offers a fresh glimpse into Naomi Judd's songwriting talent. The preview highlights a previously unreleased song recorded by Naomi and Wynonna Judd in 1982, showcasing their early days as a mother-daughter duo. Set to air on May 10 at 8 p.m. ET, the documentary promises an intimate look at the Judds' musical journey.
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The teaser opens with Ashley Judd and her stepfather, Larry Strickland, Naomi's widower, sifting through old cassette tapes. They insert one into a player, and Naomi's voice fills the room. "Hello? Hello?" Naomi says playfully on the tape, dated October 24, 1982. "I'm Naomi Judd." A soft voice chimes in, "I'm Wynonna."
Naomi introduces the track, noting she wrote it herself. Accompanied by acoustic guitar, the duo performs a tender country song centered on the lyric, "Daddy, are you comin' home tonight?" Their signature harmonies shine, even in this raw demo. "This was just them in their very early stages, before the record deal," Strickland says, marveling at the find. Ashley adds, "It's all there like butter and milk. The power. The harmony."
Wynonna, hearing the recording for the first time in years, sings along effortlessly. "That's about as pure as it ever got," she says, reflecting on the song's simplicity and authenticity.
Judds' Songwriting Passion
The documentary emphasizes Naomi's deep connection to songwriting, often overshadowed by her vocal fame. She penned several Judds' hits, including "Love Can Build a Bridge," their final performance together before Naomi's death by suicide in 2022. "More than anything, Mom wanted to be a songwriter," Wynonna says in the preview. "I'm still thinking about how she came up with the stuff she did."
Wynonna credits her mother's songwriting for shaping her own career. "It's literally what made me who I am today," she says. "I discovered my gift, big time."
How to Watch
The Judd Family: Truth Be Told premieres on Lifetime on May 10 at 8 p.m. ET. Viewers without cable can stream the channel via Philo, Sling TV, or Hulu + Live TV. The documentary joins Lifetime's recent slate of real-life stories, including Confessions of Octomom, The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, and The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.
This poignant preview sets the stage for a heartfelt tribute to the Judds' legacy, with Naomi's songwriting at its core.
