Emmy Russell is carrying on her late grandmother's legacy – what could be a better birthday present than that? Surprised Loretta Lynn's 25-year-old granddaughter American Idol judges and viewers with a raw rendition of an original song called 'Want You' on Sunday's (April 14) episode of the show, which aired on the same day the legendary singer-songwriter would have turned 92.
Taking to the stage against a blue screen of heavenly clouds, Russell channeled the 'Coal Miner's Daughter' star in a plunging, collared floral dress and boots. With the help of a backup band, he delivered crystal clear vocals while singing her self-penned lyrics: “I want you to want me the way I want you/ I want you to need me the way I need you/ If you're gonna let me go then untie me/ I want you to want me ».
When the cameras cut to the judging panel, Katy Perry smiled, while Luke Bryan looked mesmerized by the young hopeful's emotional performance.
After the show, Lynn's official Instagram account posted a photo of Russell and wrote: “What a birthday present!”
“Emmy was born on [Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn] and Loretta's anniversary and now we have this milestone on Loretta's birthday!”. the caption continued. “Loretta told everyone who would listen that Emmy had something special and now people are seeing for themselves.”
The episode — which found this season's top 20 contestants going head-to-head as the competition pool continues to narrow — came exactly 92 years after Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Ky. A three-time Grammy winner, she remains one of country music's most prolific songwriters and scored 42 top 10 entries on the Top Country Albums chart before her death at age 90 in 2022.
Perry, Bryan and Lionel Richie were surprised to learn of Russell's famous background when the Nashville artist first auditioned for Idol, for which he performed another original song – “Skinny”. “My grandma is a country singer, so I grew up singing,” she told the judges at the time, with Richie exclaiming after the big reveal: “Your grandma is… what?”
“You have the gift,” Perry told Russell after her audition. “I don't think you need to compare yourself to what grandma was… you're completely different, you shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself.”
Watch Russell's performance of “Want You” above and check out Loretta Lynn's Instagram post below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/loretta-lynns-granddaughter-sings-original-song-american-idol-1235657096/
