Naomi Judd’s husband Larry Strickland was a gospel singer and musician who performed with J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. The couple met in 1979, married on May 6, 1989, and remained together until the country singer’s death on April 30, 2022.
Strickland was her second spouse. He shared more than three decades of marriage with the Grammy-winning Judds star and often supported her through career changes, health problems, and mental health struggles.
| Basics | Details |
| Husband’s name | Larry Strickland |
| Profession | Gospel singer and musician |
| Year they met | 1979 |
| Wedding date | May 6, 1989 |
| Length of marriage | Almost 33 years |
| Her first husband | Michael Ciminella |
| Children together | None |
| Her daughters | Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd |
Direct answer: Larry Strickland was the second husband of country music singer Naomi Judd. He built his own career as a gospel vocalist before marrying her in Nashville in 1989. They had no children together, but he became part of a family that included her daughters, Wynonna and Ashley. Our related guide, Laylah Rose’s Husband, goes further into this.
Key Takeaways
- Larry Strickland was a professional gospel singer before his marriage.
- The couple reportedly met in 1979 and dated for about a decade.
- They married at Christ Church in Nashville on May 6, 1989.
- Wynonna and Ashley served as bridesmaids at the wedding.
- Their marriage lasted until the singer’s death in April 2022.
- She had previously been married to Michael Ciminella.
- Strickland and his wife did not have children together.
Who Was Naomi Judd’s Husband Larry Strickland?
Larry Strickland, best known to many as Naomi Judd’s husband, is a singer from North Carolina who built a respected career in Southern gospel music. He performed with groups including the Palmetto State Quartet and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, gaining recognition for his powerful vocals and dedication to gospel music.
The Stamps had a close professional connection with Elvis Presley, providing backing vocals for Presley during the 1970s. This experience allowed Strickland to perform on major concert stages long before he became widely recognized as the spouse of country music star Naomi Judd.
His career extended far beyond his relationship with his famous wife. He had already spent years as a touring vocalist, building a strong reputation and developing a lasting legacy in gospel music.
Readers interested in other public figures and their personal lives can browse Worthxyra’s celebrity profiles.
How Did the Couple Meet?
The pair met in 1979, about ten years before their wedding. At that point, she was still working toward the level of country music success she would later achieve with her daughter Wynonna. Their relationship developed during a period of major change. The Judds rose to national fame in the 1980s, releasing successful records and winning major country music awards.
Strickland had his own experience with touring and performance, so he understood the demands of a music career. That shared professional background may have helped them manage schedules, travel, and public attention.
They chose not to marry quickly. Instead, they remained together for roughly a decade before making their relationship official.
When Did They Get Married?
The couple married on May 6, 1989, at Christ Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Both of her daughters took part in the ceremony as bridesmaids. Wynonna also performed during the wedding. The marriage came during one of the busiest periods of The Judds’ career. By then, the mother-and-daughter act had become one of country music’s most recognized duos.
Their union continued through professional successes and difficult private periods. They were still married when she died on April 30, 2022, six days before what would have been their 33rd anniversary.
For another relationship-focused profile that separates confirmed facts from online assumptions, read Worthxyra’s article about Jayson Tatum and Ella Mai.
Did Larry Strickland and His Wife Have Children?
The couple did not have biological or adopted children together. She already had two daughters from earlier relationships and family circumstances: Wynonna and Ashley. Wynonna became a country singer and performed beside her mother in The Judds. Ashley built a successful career as a film and television actress.
Strickland therefore entered an established family rather than starting a new one with his wife. He appeared with family members at events and was present during important moments in the singer’s later life.
Online articles sometimes create confusion by describing him as the father of both daughters. That is not accurate. Michael Ciminella was Ashley’s father, while Charles Jordan was Wynonna’s biological father. Wynonna used the Ciminella surname during childhood.
Who Was Her First Husband?
Before marrying Strickland, the singer was married to Michael Ciminella. Sources generally date that marriage from 1964 until their separation or divorce in the early 1970s. Ciminella was Ashley’s biological father. He also gave his surname to Wynonna, although Wynonna’s biological father was Charles Jordan.
After the marriage ended, the future country star raised her daughters while facing financial and personal pressures. She studied nursing and later moved the family to Nashville, where she and Wynonna pursued music.
This earlier chapter explains why articles sometimes present conflicting family details. The clearest distinction is:
- Charles Jordan was Wynonna’s biological father.
- Michael Ciminella was Ashley’s father and the singer’s first husband.
- Larry Strickland was her second husband.
- She had no children with Strickland.
What Role Did Strickland Play in Her Later Life?
Strickland remained beside his wife during periods of serious illness and emotional distress. She had previously spoken publicly about depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
In a 2022 interview, he said he had spent more than 13 years closely supporting her and rarely left home without telling her where he was going. His comments described the daily responsibilities that can come with caring for a spouse who has a severe mental illness.
Their relationship was not portrayed as perfect. The 2025 documentary series The Judd Family: Truth Be Told discussed conflict and infidelity within the marriage. Strickland confirmed that a disturbing incident dramatized in an earlier television movie had occurred.
Those details add context, but they should not erase the length or complexity of the relationship. The marriage included professional cooperation, family responsibilities, conflict, caregiving, and grief.
Was Larry Strickland Involved in The Judds’ Career?
He was sometimes involved in projects connected with the family’s music. He received a producer credit for The Judds Reunion Live, a live album recorded during the duo’s New Year’s Eve reunion concert in 1999.
He also appeared on television with his wife. In 2017, the couple competed together on the Fox cooking series My Kitchen Rules. These projects showed that their partnership occasionally crossed into professional work. Still, his own musical identity remained rooted in gospel singing rather than country-pop stardom.
Worthxyra readers who enjoy career and biography details may also find the site’s profile of Elijah Wood’s net worth and career useful.
What Happened After Her Death?
The country singer died on April 30, 2022, at age 76. Her daughters announced that they had lost their mother after a struggle with mental illness. Strickland later spoke about grief and the demands of caring for her during her final years. He also took part in memorial coverage honoring her life and career.
Reports about her estate said that she named him executor of her will. Being an executor gave him responsibility for administering the estate, but it did not automatically establish that every asset went to him. Estate administration and inheritance are separate legal matters.
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Why Does Their Marriage Still Interest Fans?
The relationship connects several parts of American music history. Strickland worked in the gospel tradition and performed with a group associated with Elvis Presley. His wife later became part of one of country music’s most successful family acts.
Fans also want to understand the family structure behind Wynonna, Ashley, and The Judds. Searches about husbands, fathers, and children often produce incomplete or conflicting answers. A useful biography should separate those relationships clearly rather than repeat rumors. It should also recognize that a long marriage can include love, conflict, illness, work, and private hardship simultaneously.
For more fact-checked stories about public relationships, see Worthxyra’s profile, which covers Kylian Mbappé’s reported dating life.
Final Takeaway
Larry Strickland, widely recognized as Naomi Judd’s husband, was a gospel performer, television personality, occasional producer, and the second spouse of the late country music star. The couple met years before their 1989 wedding and remained married for nearly 33 years.
Although they did not have children together, Strickland became an important part of Naomi Judd’s close-knit family and stood by her through the final decades of her life.
The best way to understand Larry Strickland’s story is to look beyond the title of Naomi Judd’s husband. He established a successful gospel music career before their marriage, collaborated with Judd on selected projects, and later became one of her primary caregivers during her health struggles.
FAQs
Larry Strickland was her husband at the time of her death in April 2022. They had married on May 6, 1989, and remained together for nearly 33 years.
Yes. He worked as a Southern gospel singer and performed with groups including the Palmetto State Quartet and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.
Yes. Her first husband was Michael Ciminella. Their marriage ended years before she married Strickland.
No. Charles Jordan was Wynonna’s biological father, while Michael Ciminella was Ashley’s father. Strickland did not have children with his wife.
They were married from May 6, 1989, until April 30, 2022. Their 33rd wedding anniversary would have occurred six days after her death.
Recent public reporting and his participation in the 2025 documentary The Judd Family: Truth Be Told indicate that he was living at that time. Reliable sources should be checked before publishing any later status update.
