Emmy Russell from Nashville was able to get the attention of all three judges when she tried out for American Idol. She comes from a family of fierce artists.
The girl is the granddaughter of the late Loretta Lynn and gets her inspiration from one of country music’s greatest stars.
Inspired by the spirit of her iconic family member, the young woman captivated the audience with her heartfelt rendition of an original song during her audition. As tears welled up in her eyes, she lovingly referred to her grandmother, saying, “Emmy, she’s watching over you. Now it’s your time to shine.”
In October 2022, the world bid farewell to Loretta Lynn, a remarkable artist whose music touched the hearts of many. Her passing left behind a rich musical heritage, as well as a sizable family of 25 surviving grandchildren.
Emmy Russell, 25, is one of the kids who affectionately refer to her as ‘memaw’. She happens to be the daughter of Patsy Lynn (now Russell).
Patsy and Peggy, the youngest of the Loretta Lynn children, made their mark in the world of country music as The Lynns. In the late 1990s, this talented duo received award nominations from the Country Music Association (CMA).
Patsy, who also made appearances in TV shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger and Intimate Portrait, raised her daughter on Lynn’s ranch just outside of Nashville. Emmy grew up immersed in the rich musical world of the renowned country singer.
In 2022, Lynn’s granddaughter, Emmy, joined forces with Lucas Nelson, the talented son of Willie Nelson, to deliver a captivating duet at a highly anticipated memorial concert. This performance beautifully highlighted the profound impact Lynn had on her granddaughter’s musical journey.
They performed a rendition of “Lay Me Down” from the 1980 film Coal Miner’s Daughter, a musical that tells the story of Lynn’s life.
In the following year, Emmy, who happens to be the great-niece of Lynn’s sister, Crystal Gayle, had her first performance at the Grand Ole Opry. She paid tribute to her grandmother by singing a heartfelt song titled “Memaw’s Guitar.”
Emmy is currently expanding her music catalog and working towards making it more extensive. “I’m not concerned with pleasing anyone but myself,” Emmy stated in an interview with The Tennessean on February 24th. “If listeners can relate to my songs and connect with their own personal journeys, it would be a dream come true for me to pursue this passion.”
Mom Patsy stood outside the audition room for American Idol, waiting for her daughter to come out with her golden ticket. Patsy mentioned that Emmy had a genuine desire to approach this matter with honesty. “This is who I am, this is what I do, and this is my heart.”
As Emmy confidently enters the room for her audition, she shares with judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan a glimpse into her musical upbringing. She reveals that she had the privilege of singing on the road with her talented grandmother.
“Who was your grandma?” asked Bryan.
“Loretta Lynn,” she responds with a humble tone.
Bryan and Ritchie are both clearly surprised by this unexpected information. Bryan gasps while Ritchie exclaims, “Your grandma is…what?!”
“She’s an iconic figure in the world of country music, but to me, she’s simply my grandma,” Emmy shared during the episode that was broadcasted on February 25, 2024.
As Emmy took the stage, she effortlessly played the piano keys and sang her original song, “Skinny.” The heartfelt lyrics told a powerful story about the challenges of weight and eating disorders.
The judges were absolutely amazed. Her heartfelt performance, which moved her to tears, garnered high praise from the judges.
Emmy said, “I was thinking about my grandma but was also like, ‘Emmy, she’s with you, now it’s your turn.'” She was stepping out of her grandmother’s huge shadow and going her own way as an artist.