[ad_1]
By Terry Zeller for Dailymail.com
20:30 February 26, 2024, updated 21:30 February 26, 2024
The granddaughter of the late legendary country singer Loretta Lynn deeply impressed the American Idol judges during her audition on Sunday’s show.
Emmy Russell, 24, earned praise from Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie after performing an original song called Skinny, which she says was written about her battle with an eating disorder.
The judges were prepared to send Emmy to Hollywood auditions even before they knew of her iconic lineage.
“As a kid, I sang music my whole life,” Emmy told the panel. “I don’t really sing that much anymore, but when I was a kid I sang on the road with… my grandmother is a country singer.”
After Luke pressed her on the singer’s identity, Emmy surprised them by revealing that her ‘mom’ was none other than the Grammy-winning hitmaker such as You Ain’t Woman Enough and Coal Miner’s Daughter.
“She’s one of the greatest country music singers of all time, but to me she’s just my grandmother, and growing up on the bus and all that was very normal to me.” she added Emmy.
She then wowed the judges with her dulcet tones and emotional lyrics like “I haven’t eaten in days/God, I hate how you made me.”
The judges also felt the need to boost Emmy’s confidence, noting her occasional shyness during the audition.
“We just need to encourage you and give you more confidence and you just need to take ownership of it,” Luke said.
‘Emmy, you’re an A+ songwriter. Also your grandmother, you have the gift,” Katy added.
‘I don’t think you need to compare yourself to what grandma was; You are totally different, you shouldn’t put so much pressure on yourself. I think you came in like a mouse.
Lionel stepped in and said, ‘My dear, you have a promise and I like your promise.’
‘Each of us is trying to fight something we are trying to overcome. In your case you have big shoes. Now if I could just get you to put those shoes back in the closet, that’s not your size.
Emmy said of her behavior: “I think there’s a reason why I think I’m a little shy and I think it’s because I want to own my voice and I want to own it.”
“That’s why I want to challenge myself and come out here and really step in and say, ‘Okay, come on Emmy.'”
Patsy Lynn, Emmy’s mother and a country singer who was part of the duo The Lynns in the 1990s, was waiting backstage and also reflected on her daughter’s shyness.
“She just wanted to do this honestly (and say) ‘this is who I am and this is what I do and this is my heart,'” he explained.
‘I think that when you come from a family of musicians, the shadow is very big. How do I fill those shoes? Well, the deal is, you don’t. You create your own shadow.
At the end of her audition, Emmy reflected on her performance and what it would have meant to Loretta, who passed away at age 90 in October 2022.
“I was thinking about my grandmother, but I also thought, ‘Emmy, she’s with you and now it’s your turn,'” he said.
‘I think I’m more like her now than when I was trying to be like her. I’m very excited.’
Loretta launched her career in the early 1960s and her songs reflected her pride in her rural Kentucky background.
Their biggest hits came in the 1960s and 1970s, including Coal Mine’s Daughter, You Ain’t Woman Enough, The Pill, Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind), Rated re Looking. in Country.
She was also portrayed by Sissy Spacek in the 1980 film Coal Miner’s Daughter, based on the singer’s best-selling book.