Grace Pauline Kelley
Wynonna and Kelley celebrated the birth of their second child, daughter Grace Pauline, on June 21, 1996. However, the joyous occasion was accompanied by a challenging experience for Wynonna. In a 1997 interview with the Tampa Bay Times, she candidly shared the difficulty of her delivery, stating she “almost died” and took nearly a year to start feeling human again. Despite the challenges, Wynonna expressed a unique love for Grace, emphasizing the ability to make room in her heart for another child.
Naomi, Wynonna’s mother and Grace’s grandmother, described Grace as having a “very strong-willed personality” to GRANDmagazine. She highlighted Grace’s creativity, noting her talent for singing and dancing, along with an intuitive understanding of body language.
As Grace navigated adulthood, her life took a challenging turn. At the age of 22, she faced legal troubles, receiving an eight-year prison sentence for violating probation related to a 2017 drug-related arrest. Grace’s journey included parole, subsequent arrests, and a release from prison in December 2022. Throughout these difficulties, Wynonna, although rarely discussing her daughter’s legal troubles publicly, became involved in criminal justice reform activism. In 2019, she met with White House officials to discuss reform initiatives.
In a February 2020 appearance on Fox Nation’s The Pursuit! with John Rich, Wynonna addressed her daughter’s challenges and emphasized the strength within her. She also mentioned her own experiences and acknowledged the impact of music on her path.
Grace became a mother to a daughter, Kaliyah, born on April 13, 2022. Wynonna announced the birth in a May 2022 Instagram post, expressing her commitment to breaking the cycle of addiction and family dysfunction for the sake of her granddaughter. In an October 2022 interview on Today, Wynonna shared that Kaliyah became her “rock” in the months following her mother’s death, offering hope and a sense of purpose. She emphasized the joy of being with her granddaughter, appreciating the unconditional love and distraction from self-centered concerns.
