Wynonna Judd was born into a musical family in Ashland, Kentucky. Born with the name Christina Ciminella, Wynonna and her mother Diana changed their names to Wynonna and Naomi Judd and formed The Judds in the early 1980s after Naomi divorced Wynonna's father. By 1984 they had landed a record contract and become the most popular country music duo of the time. When her mother was forced to retire from the music business due to chronic liver disease from hepatitis she contracted during her days as a nurse, Wynonna struck out on her own.
Her solo career took off in 1992 with the release of her self-titled solo debut. The album contained three number one singles ('She Is His Only Need', 'I Saw the Light', and 'No One Else On Earth') and was certified triple platinum. Her second album, Tell Me Why, was released the following year. Four of its singles made it to the top ten, including the title track 'Tell Me Why', 'A Bad Goodbye' (recorded as a duet with Clint Black), and 'Rock Bottom'. Wynonna's second album was also greeted by fans with celebration and was certified platinum after selling out in music stores around the country.
By 1996 her third album was ready for release. Revelations hit the shelves and within four short months of its release it was certified platinum, one of the fastest selling country records in history. Wynonna, to please her eager fans, released her fourth album, The Other Side, in 1997 on a new label. She signed with Curb/MCA and was pleased to find a sense of teamwork with her recording company. In 2000, Wynonna and Naomi Judd reunited for a four-month reunion tour. They played to a quarter of a million people in approximately 25 shows. Tickets were in such high demand that The Judds reunion tour was #7 on the Top 10 Grossing music tours of 2000. Wynonna and her mother were nominated for the Academy of Country Music's Top Vocal Duo of the Year in 2001.
New Day Dawning, another solo album, followed in 2000, pleasing music lovers and critics alike. This record wasn't only unique in the newfound energy of the music, but it was the first album Wynonna had produced for herself. In 2001 Wynonna also broke conventions when she wrote and produced her own song, 'You Are', for the motion picture Someone Like You. Her 2003 release, What the World Needs Now, was what her fans needed. After more than a decade flying solo, her music hadn't missed a beat.
Wynonna Judd's music has been described as a more eclectic mix of blues, rock, gospel, and folk than many of her country music counterparts. Her voice and style have been compared to country great Bonnie Raitt. Wynonna's powerful vocals combined with the unique fusion of music genres makes her music pleasing to a diverse audience; one reason her albums are so popular. Wynonna has accumulated sales totals of over nine million units. Throughout her career she has won 17 major music awards and released 13 top 10 singles.
