Talent clearly runs in Loretta Lynn‘s family. The country music legend’s granddaughter, Emmy Russell, recently auditioned for American Idol, impressing Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie with her performance of an original song.
“Growing up, I have sang music my entire life,” Russell said. “I just love writing. I’m 24 years old, and [a] songwriter. I love music.”
Russell went on to explain the surprising reason why she didn’t perform on the road like she did in years past.
“I don’t really sing out as much anymore, but growing up I sang on the road,” Russell shared. “My grandma’s a country music singer, so I kind of grew up singing,” she said, before revealing her grandmother was Lynn.
After stunning the judges, viewers were then taken to Lynn’s own Hurricane Ranch, to get a glimpse inside where Lynn resided until she passed away in 2022.
“She’s one of the biggest country music singers of all time, but to me she’s just my grandma,” Russell said. “And growing up on the bus, that was very normal to me.”
The singer-songwriter acknowledged that it was her family’s legacy that made her, perhaps surprisingly, less confident.
“I think there’s a reason why I am a little bit timid,” Russell said, “and it’s because I want to own my voice. I want to own it. That’s why I want to challenge myself and come out here, and really step in and be like, ‘Okay, come on, Emmy.”
Russell performed a self-written song called “Skinny,” which she wrote about an eating disorder.
“My dear, you have promise,” Richie said after her performance. “And I like your promise. Each one of us is trying to battle something that we’re trying to overcome. In your case, you have big shoes. Now if I can just get you to put those shoes back in the closet, that’s not your size.”
“We just gotta lift you up and get you more confident,” added Bryan. “You just need to own it.”
Not surprisingly, Russell received a unanimous yes from all three judges to head to Hollywood for the next round of auditions.
“I was thinking about my grandma, but I was also like, ‘Emmy, it’s your turn,'” she said after receiving her golden ticket. “I think I’m more like her now than whenever I was trying to be like her.”
The whole Lynn clan is cheering on Emmy Rose Russell this Sunday on @AmericanIdol. Join us! pic.twitter.com/kK4PyTTR2m
— Loretta Lynn (@LorettaLynn) February 23, 2024
Russell’s mother, Patsy, took to social media to praise her daughter, ahead of her televised audition.
“Hey everybody, I’m Patsy Russell, and I wanted to come in and do a big shout-out to my daughter, Emmy Rose Russell, who will be appearing this Sunday, 7:00 PM Central, on American Idol,” she said. “So everybody tune in and watch. We could not be more proud of you, Emmy.”
This is the final season with Perry as a judge. She recently announced she was leaving American Idol after this season, to pursue other interests. American Idol airs on Sundays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.
Photo Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless
