Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter to Compete on AMERICAN IDOL
By Movieguide® Contributor
Emmy Russell, the granddaughter to multi-time Grammy award winner and country music icon Loretta Lynn, is ready to compete on this season’s AMERICAN IDOL.
In a teaser trailer for season 22 of AMERICAN IDOL, Russell introduces herself and adds, “My grandma’s a country singer,” Taste of Country reported.
“Your grandma is — what?!” judge Lionel Richie says.
Some people who watch the show might already know who Russell is from her performance with Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.
The duo performed a rendition of “Lay Me Down” for the late Loretta Lynn at her celebration of life service called “Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music of Loretta Lynn.”
Although Lynn passed away in 2022, Russell reshared a snippet of her performance on her social media.
The singer-songwriter wrote, “Memaw passed today last year. Gosh, I miss her but why would I wanna take away the freedom that she’s experiencing on the other side.. Here’s a clip of a special song I sang at her memorial with my friend @lukasnelsonofficial.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Russell’s relationship with her grandmother:
While appearing at the CMT Music Awards, Russell revealed that the most important piece of advice Lynn gave her was “to love God.”
“She was such a lover of God and I think it was more of, ‘Listen to him and follow his voice,’” she continued.
Russell shared that she wants people to remember her grandmother as an “ordinary country girl,” as well as “everybody’s friend.”
Like Lynn, Russell is a country singer and was nominated for CMT Performance of the Year alongside Lukas Nelson for “Lay Me Down.”
Before that, Russell made her Grand Ole Opry debut in April 2023 with a tribute to her late grandmother.
She sang “Memaw’s Guitar” in honor of her grandmother’s birthday.
“It’s pretty cool to start your career by thanking the person, my grandma and honoring her by this being my first time alone with a guitar since her passing…,” Russel wrote.
“I use to run from my family heritage and wanna make my own path,” she continued. “I feel a deep conviction to thank, accept, and celebrate her, cause she believed in me from the start before anyone did. Not ashamed anymore. She was never ashamed of me… I’m a granddaughter, and I’m Emmy… it’s all apart of me! This is the start of a beautiful journey. Couldn’t be more excited.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
