Emmy Russell, the granddaughter of Loretta Lynn, is getting real on Idol.
Chasing a career in music related to the legendary Loretta Lynn puts a lot of pressure on someone, and Emily Russell knows that feeling too well. As she mentioned in her audition, growing up performing with her grandma was a great bonding moment between the two, but it also made it feel as though sometimes she wouldn’t make it in the industry.
“I was told at 11 years old that ‘You’ve got big shoes to fill,’ or ‘You’ll never be your grandma.’ The pressure that I lived under is why the nerves are so strong. I’ve had an eating disorder since I was 15.
When I was 16, I remember right before showtime, I had fake eyelashes on, and I looked in the mirror in the dressing room and was just like, ‘Who am I? What is my identity outside of being Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter.'”
Russell goes on to note that she feels as though she has hidden so many aspects of her life to fit the mold of being related to country music royalty. She took to the stage during Hollywood Week to sing an original song.
“All my songs are basically a confession. I write songs that I am scared to sing.”
“Like That” details feeling scared to let yourself love again. From being little and not being jaded about the idea of falling in love to later in life, after a few tough heartbreaks, trying to let yourself fall into love again can be scary and hard.
Russell’s vocal range is unique as she can reach the falsetto notes with ease, but she still has an earthy feel to her delivery of each word. She got the songwriting gene in her family and it is displayed well throughout this performance.
I hope to see more from Emmy this season. You know her grandma is looking down on her, beaming.
