Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter wows judges at ‘American Idol’ audition

Emmy Russell, granddaughter of legendary country singer Loretta Lynn, is heading to Hollywood.

The 24-year-old composer auditioned for american idol on Sunday night’s episode and impressed judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan with her powerful song. “Skinny.”

Apparently, the judges didn’t know about Russell’s lineage before she arrived at the audition. “When I was a little girl, I sang music my whole life,” she said as she introduced herself. “I love writing. I’m 24 years old. Composer, I love music. I don’t really sing that much anymore, but when I was a kid she sang on the road with… my grandmother is a country singer.”

“Who is your grandmother?” —Bryan asked.

After surprising the judges by revealing his connection to Lynn, Russell gave the team a tour of the country legend’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. “My family grew up here, my mom grew up here. “This is my mom’s house,” he said. “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.”

The judges lightly criticized Russell for appearing quiet and shy. “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,” he explained. “That’s why I want to challenge myself and come out here and really step in and say, ‘Okay, come on Emmy.'”

Later, Russell’s mother, Patsy Lynn, who was also a country singer as part of the duo The Lynns in the 1990s, reacted to her daughter’s nervousness. “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,’” she 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.”

Russell wowed the judges with strong vocals and emotional lyrics like “I haven’t eaten in days/ God, I hate how you made me” and “So I took a trip around the world to hold the hands of orphan girls/ I saw the war, I felt the pain and miracles in his name.”

Perry praised her songwriting skills but encouraged her to speak and act with more confidence. “Emmy, you are an A+ songwriter. Your grandmother too, you have the gift,” she said. “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.”

Richie echoed her sentiments. “My dear, you have a promise and I like your promise,” he said. “Each of us is trying to fight something that we’re trying to overcome. In your case, you have big shoes. Now, if I could just get it, ‘You put those shoes back in the closet, that’s not your size.’

Bryan also encouraged her to embrace her voice. “We just need to encourage you and give you more confidence and you just need to take ownership of it.”

All three judges ultimately gave Russell a “yes” vote, meaning he will take his talents to Hollywood to sing in the next round of competition.

Russell reflected on the experience at the end of his segment. “I was thinking about my grandmother, but I also thought, ‘Emmy, she’s with you and she’s your turn now,’” he said. “I think I look more like her now than when I was trying to be like her. I am very excited.”

american idol airs Sundays at 8:00 pm ET/PT on ABC.

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