A year and a half after the legendary country music star Loretta Lynn passed away at the age of 90, her beloved granddaughter Emmy Russell is keeping her memory alive by making the Top 24 on this season of “American Idol,” where she blew the judges away with her performance on Monday night.
Lynn’s Granddaughter Performs On ‘American Idol’
Heading into Monday night’s episode, Russell, 25, said that she was “praying my performances are getting stronger,” and her prayers were definitely answered when she garnered rave reviews for her rendition of Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things.”
Check out Russell’s performance in the video below.
The judges had nothing but positive things to say about Russell’s performance.
“You have a texture in your voice that is your career,” said judge Lionel Ritchie, according to Penn Live. “And on top of that what you have is a storyteller’s voice. We hear every word you are saying, and we believe it.”
“I know you didn’t write that song,” Katy Perry told Russell. “But you sang it like you did.
“You pushed your vocals a lot tonight, and I loved it,” she added. “I want you to keep doing it, and have confidence while doing it because tonight’s vocals were the best I have ever head from you. You have a story to tell and you did it great tonight.”
The country music judge Luke Bryan heaped praise on Russell as well.
“If your fame is sitting on a stool, delivering a song that really makes people reflect on their life, that can be your thing,” he said. “And when you are ready you can go and high-five the front row, and look up at the nosebleed section and waive at them. I mean, I don’t think people can appreciate how shy this girl was a few months ago.
“As people get to know you, the shyness will go away,” he continued. “We are seeing that happen right in front of our eyes, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
Related: Loretta Lynn Told Her Granddaughter To ‘Love God’ Before She Passed Away
Russell Says Lynn Would Be ‘Very Proud’
Before taking the stage on Monday night, Russell told People Magazine that her grandmother would be “really proud” of her run on “American Idol” so far.
“She’d be just like, ‘About time, honey.’ That’s all I hear her saying,” she said. “‘About time, honey. You have it in you.’ She used to always tell me — and I say this a lot — ‘God doesn’t give a plumber tools not to use.’ And so it’s like, if God gives you a gift, don’t just throw it away.”
Russell went on to say that she had a close bond with Lynn during her lifetime.
“I lived with her for about four years, five years,” she explained. “I would lay on her bed and just watch a movie with her and she says something funny. I feel like a lot of those times of holding my hand just saying, ‘I love you, honey.’ Or her being next to me on the stage, looking at me with her proud eyes.”
Previous ‘Nepo Babies’ On ‘American Idol
Russell isn’t the first so-called “Nepo Baby” to try their luck on “American Idol.” Last season, Kaya Stewart, daughter of Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, auditioned for the show and made it to the Hollywood round before she had to drop out due to illness. She had been set to perform a duet of Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me” with fellow contestant Fire Wilmore before dropping out.
“I got sick at the beginning of Hollywood Week and I have been trying to push myself and keep going and during this performance I got to work with Fire and it was such a great experience,” Stewart said at the time, according to Entertainment Weekly. “She’s so talented and so incredible and we bonded so much. But I realize that I wasn’t able to give 100% so I’ve decided to not perform. But Fire is going to perform and I’m really grateful that I got to be here and thank you guys, but I’m not gonna be performing.”
Variety reported that the “actor Jim Carrey’s daughter, Jane, earned a golden ticket in season 11; Aretha Franklin’s granddaughter, Grace, auditioned last season; and Lara Johnston, daughter of Doobie Brothers lead singer Tom Johnston also made it to Hollywood on season 10. Gianna Isabella, daughter of Brenda K. Starr, did quite well on season 15 of “Idol,” as did Alex Preston, a cousin of Jo Dee Messina who carved his own independent path on season 13.”
There have been children of people with political ties who have competed on “American Idol” as well. Claudia Conway, the daughter of Donald Trump’s former advisor Kellyanne Conway, auditioned for the show in 2021. Ayla Brown, daughter of Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), managed to finish in the top 16 of “American Idol” in the fifth season back in 2006.
It remains to be seen how much further Lynn’s granddaughter Russell will go on “American Idol” this season, but if her performance on Monday night is any indication, it’s safe to say that she’s a contender to win the whole thing. Be sure to tune in on Sunday night to see if Russell has made the top 20!
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