Emmy Russell, the granddaughter of legendary country singer Loretta Lynn, is heading to Hollywood.
The 24-year-old songwriter auditioned for American Idol on Sunday night's episode and impressed judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan with her powerful song “Skinny.”
The judges apparently didn't know about Russell's parentage before she showed up for the audition. “Growing up, I sang music my whole life,” she said as she introduced herself. “I just love writing. I am 24 years old. Songwriter, I love music. I don't sing as much anymore, but when I was growing up I sang on the road with… my grandma, a country singer.”
“Who is your grandmother?” Bryan asked.
After shocking the judges by revealing her connection to Lynn, Russell gave the crew a tour of the country legend's ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. “My family grew up here, my mother grew up here. “This is my Meemaw’s house,” she said. “She's one of the greatest country singers of all time, but to me she's just my grandma, and growing up on the bus and all that was just normal to me.”
Emmy Russell and Loretta Lynn.
Disney/Eric McCandless; Erika Goldring/WireImage
The judges lightly reprimanded 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,” she explained. “So 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 in the duo The Lynns in the 1990s, responded to her daughter's nervousness. “She just wanted to do it honestly [and say] “This is who I am and this is what I do and this is my heart,” she explained. “I think when you come from a musical family the shadow is so big. How do I fill these shoes? Well, the thing is, you don't. You create your own shadow.”
Russell wowed the judges with strong vocals and emotional lyrics like “Haven't eaten in days/God I hate the way you made me” and “So I took a trip around the world to hold the hands of orphan girls/Saw that one.” War, felt that. “Pain and wonder in his name.”
Perry praised her songwriting skills but encouraged her to speak and perform with more confidence. “Emmy, you are a first class songwriter. That was your grandma too, you have the gift,” she said. “I don't think you have to compare yourself to grandma – you're completely different, you shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself. I think you came in like a mouse.”
Richie echoed her sentiments. “My love, you have a promise, and I like your promise,” he said. “Each of us is trying to fight something that we are trying to overcome. In your case you have big problems. Now if I can just put those shoes back in the closet, they're not your size.”
Bryan also encouraged her to embrace her voice. “We just need to lift you up and give you more confidence and you just need to own it.”
All three judges ultimately voted “yes” to Russell, meaning she will take her talents to Hollywood to sing in the next round of competition.
Russell reflected on the experience at the end of her segment. “I thought about my grandma, but I also thought, 'Emmy, she's with you and now it's your turn,'” she said. “I think I'm more like her now than I was when I tried to be like her. I'm very excited.”
American Idol airs Sundays at 8:00 pm ET/PT on ABC.
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