Wynonna Judd

Wynonna Ellen Judd (born Christina Claire Ciminella on May 30, 1964, in Ashland, Kentucky) is a Grammy-winning Country Music singer. She often goes by the single name Wynonna (pronounced "Wye-NO-nah"). Her immediate family consists of her mother Naomi, sister Ashley, son Elijah (born December 23, 1994), and daughter Grace Pauline June 21, 1996).

Wynonna first came into prominence as part of the legendary mother-daughter duo, The Judds, in 1984 and has been critically lauded as one of the finest vocalists of our time.

Wynonna now shares her vocal talents with the world on her #1 album, What the World Needs Now is Love. Celebrating twenty years as a music icon with her third cd to debut at the #1 spot on the country charts, Wynonna continues to blaze trails with her compassionate artistry, humanitarian endeavors and unprecedented success. While capturing the hearts of fans, the album has also caught the eye of critics. Rolling Stone proclaimed "Ms. Judd appears just when we need her…tender enough to let a little humor into the tune and tough enough to shut down a biker bar," while The New York Post raved "Judd has risen… and created the best album of her career!"

The Judds became one of the most celebrated success stories in country music history. In just six short years, they had sold more than twenty million records worldwide and had won over sixty industry awards including five Grammys, nine Country Music Association Awards and eight Billboard Music Awards. In 1991, Naomi Judd retired from the singing duo because she had contracted chronic hepatitis during her earlier nursing career. At the dawn of the new millennium, The Judds reunited for a four-month triumphant tour in 2000, playing to over 250,000 people in some 36 shows. It was one of the Top 10 grossing country music tours of the year and two Judds' discs were released as well as a CBS television concert special to celebrate the reunited power of the duo. The duo was nominated for the prestigious Academy of Country Music's Top Vocal Duo of the Year in 2001, after a ten-year absence from the awards show circuit. In 2002, Wynonna and Naomi were named two of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music" by CMT, landing at #11 on the coveted list. The Judds are universally loved and still regarded as country music royalty for music fans around the globe.

Wynonna began the second amazing success story of her life and signed her first solo record deal in 1992. With vast critical acclaim, Wynonna, selling over five million units, became the highest-selling debut album by a female artist at the time. A musical force like none other before her, Wynonna followed her wildly successful debut with the multi-platinum disc, Tell Me Why, as well as with the platinum-certified Revelations. Her greatest hits compilation, Collection, was released in 1997, the year which also found her gold record, The Other Side, flying from the shelves. Wynonna burst into 2000 with a torrent of unleashed creativity that is expressed on New Day Dawning. It was on this record that she marked the first time role of producer as well as the director of the widest stylistic scope she had ever attempted.

Wynonna released her sixth solo studio album,What the World Needs Now Is Love, on Curb Records in 2003. The album debuted impressively at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in August, her third solo project to do so, stretching her career into its third decade! Her new single, "Flies on the Butter," will debut on the country charts in January 2004. About the new song Wynonna says, "Life comes full circle. This song is clearly a nod to the past, how I got my start in the business. And this song just flattens me. My mom lends harmony to the vocal-it's as if we are one voice." The first single from the album, "What the World Needs," was a Top 15 hit at country radio and was honored by Radio and Records Magazine as the most added country single of the year in 2003. Her video for "Heaven Help Me" is currently a Top 20 mainstay on CMT and GAC. Billboard raved about Wy, "She unleashes those signature pipes on this positive anthem; a fine single from one of the format's most distinctive talents." Radio and Records had this to say, "Here comes the coolest chick on the block armed with one of the best songs of the year. She can outsing just about anyone. 'What the World Needs' is truly a worthy spotlight from one of the best vocalists we've ever had in this format."

In January 2003, Wynonna was the keynote speaker at the Country Cares Seminar for St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She also entertained an industry crowd in February 2003 with blues legend, B.B. King, as part of the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala, honoring her friend, Bono. Wynonna recently inducted Queen into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, an event at which she performed a scorching "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" with the legendary band. She also reprised her successful role as "Audrey" on the CBS hit, "Touched by an Angel," in April 2003. Wy is currently an active participant in the national Asthma Action America Campaign, the 'Free from Pain' promotion (for arthritic dogs) and was recently nominated for the 2003 Academy of Country Music's Humanitarian of the Year Award. In the last two years alone, Wynonna has single-handedly raised over $1 million for charity. She was also the first country artist to ever serve as Grand Marshal for the Indy 500 in 2003.

In April 2002, Wynonna joined Sting, James Taylor, Elton John, Patti Labelle and Smokey Robinson at the 11th Annual Rainforest Foundation Benefit at Carnegie Hall. The crowd felt in tune with the magic moment of the night as Sting and Wynonna performed "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." Wynonna also endorsed the "Got Milk?" campaign with their first-ever national radio campaign (spotlighted by The New York Times) and wrote and recorded a song for the Todd Beamer tribute album, Let's Roll, now available in stores. In addition, Wynonna remade the Elvis classic, "Burning Love," which is featured prominently in the blockbuster Disney animated DVD/home video, "Lilo and Stitch." She also wrote, produced and performed the theme song for Erin Brockovich's reality series on Lifetime, "Final Justice. She also made her long-awaited debut at the Grand Ole Opry, performed for our troops on four occasions at Ft. Campbell, sang at the Superbowl as well as at the Paralympics in Salt Lake City.

Wynonna has accumulated sales totals in excess of nine million units as well as several major industry awards including the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year in 1994 by the Academy of Country Music and thirteen top ten hits on the charts. Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music, Wynonna's luminous career has certainly grown to levels once thought unimaginable. And, it's only the beginning: incomparable, inspired and imaginative, this phenomenal twenty-year veteran is about to change the rules all over again. With a long-awaited book project in the works, singles to multiple formats and several network appearances in the works, Wynonna's 20 year celebration in 2004 will continue to shake up the musical landscape as she blasts into her third decade of consummate victory!

Wynonna is an active and vocal member of the Recording Artists' Coalition, an American music industry organization that represents recording artists, and attempts to defend their rights and interests.

Partial List of #1 Hits (as certified by Billboard magazine)

• Mama He's Crazy - The Judds
• Why Not Me - The Judds
• Girls Night Out - The Judds
• Love is Alive - The Judds
• Have Mercy - The Judds
• Grandpa - The Judds
• Rockin With the Rhythm - The Judds
• Cry Myself to Sleep - The Judds
• I Know Where I'm Going - The Judds
• Maybe Your Baby's Got the Blues - The Judds
• Turn it Loose - The Judds
• Change of Heart - The Judds
• Young Love - The Judds
• Let Me Tell You About Love - The Judds
• She Is His Only Need - Wynonna
• I Saw the Light - Wynonna
• No One Else on Earth - Wynonna
• My Strongest Weakness - Wynonna
• Only Love - Wynonna
• To Be Loved by You - Wynonna

A Year By Year Glance of Wynonna's Career Milestones!

1984 - First professional gig-in March 1984 in Omaha, Nebraska. First #1 hit with "Mama He's Crazy" as part of the duo The Judds in August 1984. They also received the coveted CMA Horizon Award. By year end, the amazing duo had their second #1 hit with "Why Not Me." They also received their first Grammy award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

1985 - The Judds celebrated their first double platinum album with "Why Not Me." The Judds received their first two Academy of Country Music awards for Top Vocal Duet and Song of the Year for "Why Not Me" and their second Grammy. They also won their first four Billboard awards for Top Country Singles Duo, Top Country Albums Duo, Top New Country Artists - Albums, Top New Country Artists - Singles. They didn't stop there, but also went on to receive their first two Country Music Association awards for Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year, "Why Not Me". They chalked up 3 more #1 records with "Girls Night Out," "Love is Alive" and "Have Mercy." They also performed 260 dates on the road in 1985!

1986- The Judds celebrated 2 more #1 songs with hits, "Grandpa" and "Rockin' with the Rhythm," and went on to collect their third Grammy in three short years, three more Billboard awards and awards at both the Academy of Country Music Association and Country Music Association. They also performed around the world and made their debut appearance at Radio City Music Hall.

1987 - The Judds received their first two American Music Awards for Favorite Country Video and Favorite Country Single for the song "Grandpa." They celebrated success at radio with 3 more #1 hits, "Cry Myself to Sleep," "I Know Where I'm Going" and "Maybe Your Baby's Got the Blues." In their fourth year, they were honored with their fourth platinum album.

1988 - The Judds released their first Greatest Hits Album in their career, their second album to be certified multi-platinum, and celebrated the success of their 11th #1 hit, "Turn it Loose." They also reigned supreme at the Grammy Awards, collecting their fourth Grammy Award.

1989 - The Judds scored their first CBS television special in January. Their seventh studio album "River of Time" was released. In just 5 short years, The Judds celebrated with their 14th #1 hit, "Let Me Tell You about Love."

1990 - The Judds surprised the world when Naomi Judd was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and with that came the realization that they would have to retire as the reining duo, The Judds. They also created the world's first 3-D music video for their fifth music video, "Love Can Build a Bridge." They were honored as the Top Vocal Duet by the Academy of Country Music, Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association and #5 Top Artists of the Decade by Billboard.

1991 -The Judds were the top touring act in any genre this year, performing in over 116 cities. In December, the two joined voices for "The Final Concert" which was the highest rated pay-per-view special of all time. They also celebrated their unprecedented 8th consecutive win for Country Duo at the CMA Awards. In eight short years, they had collected over 60 industry awards, including their fifth Grammy, 6 platinum albums, four gold albums (over 20 million albums sold in all) and were honored with two platinum and three gold video awards.

1992 - Released her first solo album, "Wynonna" - the largest selling country album by a female country artist at that time. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Charts and went on to be certified with sales in excess of 5 million units. This same year she celebrated 4 #1 singles from the album as well, bringing her overall shared total to 18 #1 hits in 9 years.

1993 - Wynonna hosted the American Music Awards, performed for the Pope and released her second multi-platinum solo #1 album, "Tell Me Why" and celebrated her fifth solo #1 single with "Only Love." She also recorded and released her first solo duet with Country Superstar Clint Black, "A Bad Goodbye."

1994 - Named by the Academy of Country Music as Country Music's Top Female Vocalist, Wynonna performed at the Grammy Awards and at the Superbowl.

1995 - Wynonna was a guest on the first annual VH1 Honors Show (a precursor to the VH1 "Divas" series), was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show and was featured in an NBC Miniseries in May.

1996 - Wynonna was one of the Top 10 grossing tours of the year. "To Be Loved by You" was released from her platinum album entitled "Revelations." The song peaked at #1 on both the Billboard and Radio and Records charts, raising her overall total to 20 #1 hits (6 as a solo artist). Wynonna also landed in her first solo television special on CBS.

1997 - Wynonna released two albums, a Greatest Hits package entitled "Collection" and a fourth studio album entitled "The Other Side." She also made her first appearance on "Sesame Street."

1998 - Wynonna lended her voice for the "Prince of Egypt" soundtrack with the song, "Freedom." She also co-headlined "The Voices" tour with Michael Bolton, sang at the Daytona 500 and chaired a celebrity auction for the American Liver Foundation with her family.

1999 - Wynonna marked her acting debut on the hit television show, "Touched by an Angel," marking her first of three featured appearances on the show. Her first appearance in 1999 (Psalm 151) was voted as the series favorite by voters as www.cbs.com. At the dawn of the millennium, Wynonna celebrated one of the nation's premiere entertainment events by reuniting with her mother in Phoenix for The Judds Reunion Concert. It was spotlighted by cover stories in USA Today and papers around the globe.

2000 - Wynonna was the national spokesperson for the Power to Change Program, sponsored by Kmart and Ladies Home Journal. She was also the celebrity spokesperson for the Kmart Corporation and was featured in three commercials for the retail giant. Wynonna and her mother were featured in a third CBS primetime special. She also performed in the highly acclaimed series for MTV, "Music in High Places," where she performed acoustically throughout Italy.

2001 -Wynonna co-wrote, produced and recorded her first major motion picture soundtrack song, "You Are," for the 20th Century Fox film, "Someone Like You," featuring her sister, actress Ashley Judd. She also made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry in September and sang duets with Huey Lewis and Kelly Price. She also performed twice for President Bush, making him the fourth sitting United States President for whom she had performed.

2002 - As part of the amazing Superbowl festivities, Wynonna performed to a worldwide audience of over one billion people. She also sang at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, sang at Carnegie Hall for the first time and celebrated platinum soundtrack album success with her involvement in the Disney film "Lilo and Stitch" with her hip rendition of Elvis' "Burnin' Love." She was the cornerstone of all marketing efforts for the Disney's company launch of the film and was spotlighted in a primetime ABC special celebrating its release.

2003 - Wynonna returned to the music charts with her fourteenth solo Top 20 hit, "What the World Needs." She also released her sixth solo album, "What the World Needs Now is Love" where it debuted at the coveted #1 position on the Country Album charts. It was her first trip to #1 in over a decade, her third solo album to do so. She was also the first country artist to serve as Grand Marshall for the Indy 500 Festival and Race.

2004 - Wynonna releases her new single, "Flies on the Butter," to country radio. This is her 42nd commercial release in 20 years. Wynonna and D.R. Roach are featured in ABC's primetime special, InStyle Celebrity Weddings in January. She also honors friend Sting at the MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year gala with a special musical tribute.Template:Musician-stub