Sunday night concluded another season of American Idol.
The competition-style TV show’s contestants captured the hearts of fans throughout this season. This season was a standout for country music, from Will Moseley to Tristan Harper and Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Emmy Russell. But the crown jewel of performances from the season had to be the finale when Emmy Russell was brought back to sing one of her grandmother’s songs with the legend Wynonna Judd.
It’s a full circle moment, as Wynonna always tells the story of first meeting Lynn early in her career, and now Wynonna is being a role model for Russell early in hers. Wynonna gushed about the up-and-comer:
“At some point in your life, you find yourself talking to someone in the family that’s carrying on what their ancestors started and that’s what she’s doing.”
Russell noted early on in the season that she often felt immense pressure being Lynn’s granddaughter and choosing to pursue music. If one thing has been proven throughout this season, it’s that Russell’s sound is very much her own. Although she comes from a country music great, she is paving her own path for her career with her vulnerable songwriting. However, with that, no one covers Loretta Lynn better than her bloodline.
The two graced the stage to perform a stunning duet of Lynn’s hit, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” then leading into Wynonna’s hit, “No One Else On Earth.”
During the first song, Wynonna grabbed Russell’s hand as the two honored the kind soul that was Loretta Lynn. At the end of the song, a photo of Loretta Lynn holding her granddaughter flashed on the screen, bringing on the chills and tears from many viewers.
The two then turn it up a notch for “No One Else On Earth,” laying down a stellar vocal performance. Although they have very different vocal styles, their harmonies match perfectly.
I am sure that Loretta Lynn was beaming during this performance, watching an old friend take her granddaughter under her wing on stage—a true full-circle moment.
