Wynonna Judd’s weight loss in recent years left social media users split, with some calling it “too much” while others admired her transformation. Take a closer look at the singer’s incredible story and see her before-and-after photos.
Wynonna Judd, 60, has captivated audiences for decades with her powerful voice and larger-than-life stage presence. Rising to fame in the 1980s as one half of The Judds alongside her mother, Naomi Judd, Wynonna helped shape the landscape of country music.
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Naomi and Wynonna Judd of The Judds at the ACM Awards in Los Angeles, California circa 1990s. | Source: Getty Images
The duo’s soulful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics earned them five Grammy Awards and timeless hits, such as “Love Can Build a Bridge” and “Mama He’s Crazy.”
When Naomi retired in the early 1990s due to health issues, Wynonna launched a successful solo career with her debut album, “Wynonna,” which included hits like “She Is His Only Need.”
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Wynonna Judd at The Musicares 2004 Person of the Year Tribute to Sting in Culver City, California on February 6, 2003. | Source: Getty Images
Her journey as a solo artist solidified her as one of the most beloved and influential voices in country music. However, Wynonna’s life offstage has been filled with struggles, including family challenges and a decades-long battle with her weight.
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Wynonna Judd at the YouthAIDS Annual Benefit Gala 2003 at Capitale in New York on October 27, 2003. | Source: Getty Images
In February 2004, she took the brave step of publicly addressing her struggles with weight, admitting that it was something she had long hidden from even those closest to her. “I’ve suffered in silence, I guess,” Wynonna shared.
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Wynonna Judd performing at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards on February 6, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
“I’ve tried so hard not to complain. […] It’s just — this is an issue. This is a problem,” she added. For Wynonna, admitting the extent of her struggle was a vulnerable moment.
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Wynonna and Naomi Judd at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards on February 6, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
“It’s hard to be vulnerable. I don’t want people seeing it as whining or complaining. If I’m going to do this, I’ve got to be willing to be honest and to be that vulnerable and that honest is just…But the pain of not changing is much greater than the pain of changing [sic[,” she said.
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Wynonna Judd performing at George Ranch in Richmond, Texas on April 24, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
The wake-up call came after the singer’s doctor informed her that her cholesterol levels were dangerously high, forcing her to confront the seriousness of her situation.
Additionally, in March 2010, Wynonna suffered a serious health scare when doctors discovered blood clots in her lungs—a complication stemming from surgery to repair damage to her stomach muscles.
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Kate Roberts and Wynonna Judd during the 2004 YouthAIDS Discussion in New York on September 23, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
Just a few months later, she was involved in a terrifying head-on car accident in Salt Lake City. These events were sobering for Wynonna, forcing her to take her health more seriously. These experiences left Wynonna “more determined than ever to commit to a healthier lifestyle.”
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Wynonna Judd at the YouthAIDS Benefit in New York on September 23, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
She likened her relationship with food to an addiction, saying, “We can be in denial. I didn’t have a lot of mirrors around my house. I just kept, you know, getting clothes bigger…but I am as addicted to it as someone trying to come off a drug.”
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Wynonna Judd at Denise Rich and The G&P Foundation’s Angel Ball in New York on November 14, 2005. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the challenges, she chose not to undergo gastric bypass surgery, instead opting to address her weight with lifestyle changes. “I would like to be able to tie my shoes without holding my breath. Everybody thinks that’s really funny, but the fact is it’s the little thing,” Wynonna explained.
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Wynonna Judd performing at the Musicares 2004 Person of the Year Tribute to Sting. | Source: Getty Images
Her weight-loss journey included help from Oprah Winfrey’s trainer, Bob Greene, and the country star’s personal trainer, Dominick DaVito. The work was not easy, but Wynonna’s dedication paid off.
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Wynonna Judd selling tires for the hidden camera show “I Get That A Lot” on April 10, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
Dominick shared his admiration for her effort, “Even when I haven’t been there, she’s been downstairs doing cardio on her own, which she’s never done. And she’s also, for the first time in three years, jogging for thirty straight minutes on the treadmill.”
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Linda Davis and Wynonna Judd at the Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years award show in Ledyard, Connecticut on April 10, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
In addition to cardio workouts, Wynonna made small but impactful changes to her lifestyle. Over time, she began seeing progress, losing a total of ten inches and dropping a clothing size.
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Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd performing at Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years award show. | Source: Getty Images
Reflecting on her improvement, she exclaimed, “And I’m singing better than ever!” Her renewed efforts included brain state conditioning—a technique that helped her manage stress without turning to food.
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Wynonna Judd performing at The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on April 21, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
“My weight was a symptom and not the problem. I used food to soothe and reward and I don’t do that anymore,” Wynonna said. By the end of 2010, the singer had lost 55 pounds and went down five dress sizes.
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Wynonna Judd performing during Day 1 of CMA Music Fest in Nashville, Tennessee on June 10, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
However, her transformation was more than physical—it reinvigorated her confidence and zest for life. The country star even joked about trying new things, including pole dancing with friends in Las Vegas. “I feel more alive,” she disclosed proudly.
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Wynonna Judd on an episode of “Today” on January 25, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
Wynonna also overhauled her pantry, eliminating tempting snacks like donuts, which she admitted she couldn’t resist. “It’s like a chip, I can’t eat just one,” she confessed.
With daily walks around her expansive property in Leipers Fork, Tennessee, she noticed her stamina improving, saying, “I can walk up the hill behind my house without puking.”
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Wynonna Judd on stage at the 2011 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on June 8, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
The physical changes also brought unexpected perks. Wynonna embraced a new wardrobe filled with low-cut tops, jeans, and even lingerie. “If you look at old Judd photos, I was hiding in turtlenecks and coats,” she recalled.
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Wynonna Judd performing at the 18th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in Palm Springs, California on February 11, 2012. | Source: Getty Images
She also recounted how proud she felt after shopping for lace stockings and push-up bras for the first time. “I went into a lingerie store for the first time where I didn’t feel embarrassed…I left feeling like Miss America!” the star exclaimed.
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Wynonna Judd performing during the San Jose Civic Unveiling Ceremony in California on December 4, 2013. | Source: Getty Images
Through it all, Wynonna also felt the presence of her mother, who had died by suicide in 2022. She revealed, “One of the first things I remember about the tribute tour was we had rehearsal and I heard Mom’s voice.”
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Wynonna Judd performing at the funeral service for George Jones in Nashville, Tennessee on May 2, 2013. | Source: Getty Images
“I turned around and just out of knee-jerk response, I said, ‘Mom, I’ve lost 20 pounds!’ Everybody cracked up because she wasn’t really there…but I’m still talking to her,” she added.
Sadly, Wynonna’s health journey faced obstacles in the following years, and reports emerged of her quitting her diet plan. After the devastating loss of her mother, the “Testify To Love” artist struggled emotionally.
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Wynonna Judd performing during the “Naomi Judd: ‘A River Of Time’ Celebration” event at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on May 15, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
“I feel her, and I miss her terribly,” she said. “I think about everything differently now, now that Mom is gone.” Her daughter, Grace Kelley, also continued to face legal troubles, with multiple arrests since 2017.
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Wynonna Judd performing during Day 2 of 2022 CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on June 10, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
Grace faced legal trouble in April 2024 when she pled guilty to public lewdness and was jailed. Just a few months later, in August 2024, she was arrested again for attempting to evade a police officer and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
She was released on a $2,750 bond, but no further details have been disclosed publicly. Wynonna, who now raises her granddaughter Kaliyah, found herself juggling the demands of family life while grieving and dealing with her own health.
“[Wynonna has] been very fragile following the death of her mom. Now her daughter Grace situation is getting worse and giving her immeasurable grief,” the source said.
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Wynonna Judd at “The Judds: Love Is Alive” final concert on November 3, 2022, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images
By October 2024, a source revealed to “Closer Weekly” that Wynonna had abandoned her dieting plan in favor of focusing on her family and personal well-being.
“She’s done with yo-yo dieting and just wants to enjoy her life,” an insider explained, adding that Wynonna found solace in cooking for her family and spending time at her farm.
“She’s been through hell with her mom Naomi’s death and the aftermath and her daughter’s continuing troubles with the law,” the source added.
Despite these reports, throughout 2024, fans noticed that Wynonna appeared to have lost weight again after sharing snaps of herself online. Social media buzzed with comments, with many praising her appearance.
“Wynonna you are looking just like your beautiful mama now that you’ve lost all the weight!♥️,” one person shared. Another typed, “Wow! You look fantastic! Please share your secret for weight loss.”
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Wynonna Judd at the Kentucky Derby 150 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on May 4, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
A fourth social media user added, “With your weight loss, you look so much like your Mama. Beautiful!!” A fifth wrote, “She’s beautiful & a great voice. Loved to hear the Judds. The weight loss looks fabulous on you ❤️❤️.” Someone else marveled, “You look soooo thin!!! Gorgeous!!! ❤️👠.”
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Wynonna Judd performing on the opening day of the 2024 Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas on September 6, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
Even more praise ensued, with yet another fan reiterating, “You look great !!!!! ❤️wow,” while a fellow admirer gushed, “Wow!! Just Wow Wy! 🔥😍.” “
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Wynonna Judd at the MusiCares Persons of the Year Honoring The Grateful Dead event in Los Angeles, California on January 31, 2025. | Source: Getty Images
“You look good and you look healthy. Keep it up. Health is important.😍😍😍👏👏👏👏👏,” swooned another supporter.
However, not everyone has been fond of the singer’s alleged change in appearance, as one person commented, “Too much weight loss girl but how did you do it?”
Another shared, “You have lost too much weight.” Someone else wrote, “Love you Wy, you need some biscuits and gravy cause you a bone now baby!!!”
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Wynonna Judd posing on the carpet of the MusiCares Persons of the Year Honoring The Grateful Dead event. | Source: Getty Images
While the singer has certainly faced various challenges throughout her life and career, she has luckily had the love and support of her beloved third husband, producer, composer, and actor Cactus Moser, whom she wed in 2012.
The lovebirds have been going strong ever since they tied the knot, and the pair often share heartwarming photos of their life as a couple on social media.
One such time saw Wynonna share a love-filled image of her and Cactus sharing a kiss behind a cowboy hat for Valentine’s Day. “Valentine. 💌💋,” captioned the musician alongside the photo.
In January of this year (2025), Wynonna shared an Instagram carousel post showing her highlights from 2024. Among the photos was an endearing one of her and Cactus at the wedding of one of the producer’s sons. “2- Married off the final Moser son 💍,” penned Wynonna in her lengthy caption, describing what the image represented.
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Wynonna Judd and Cactus Moser posing for a photo at Cactus’ son’s wedding, posted on January 4, 2025. | Source: Instagram/wynonnajudd
Other highlights from her post include her performing in Alaska, spending time with other loved ones, and cooking a meal with corn and what appeared to be tomatoes. Another standout image is her cover photo, which shows her looking at a body of water from a boat.
From her battle with weight to the heartbreak of losing her mother and navigating family challenges, Wynonna Judd’s life has been a journey of resilience.
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Wynonna Judd performing on stage at the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year event. | Source: Getty Images
Her life has also been one marked by immense success, personal struggles, and various moments of reinvention.