American Idol fans think Emmy Russell looks very familiar and it’s not just because
12American Idol fans think Emmy Russell looks very familiar and it’s not just because
American Idol fans think Emmy Russell looks very familiar – and it’s not just because she has a famous grandmother
AMERICAN Idol contestant Emmy Russell has struck a familiar chord with fans thanks to her famous links.
The singer's grandmother is the late country music legend Loretta Lynn and the 25-year-old has performed at some major events over the years.
Emmy won a golden ticket on American Idol after performing the heartfelt original song, Skinny, during her audition.
She revealed her "Memaw" Loretta, who died aged 90 in October 2022, has been giving her advice throughout her life.
“Memaw was a little bit too truthful sometimes,” Emmy said about her track Skinny, which is about an eating disorder.
“I think that’s what gave me the ammunition to write a song like ‘Skinny.’
"I think I’m completely different than my grandma, but someone commented and said, ‘You’re so much like her, because that was such a gutsy song to sing just like so many songs in her time were so gutsy.'"
The singer is now in the top 20 and set to perform for a shot on the live shows - although she's had years of practice on the big stage.
Emmy performed with Loretta while she was still doing live shows.
She would often cover a song and then sing an original track like "Memaw's Guitar" with the music icon.
The musician experienced her first big taste of the spotlight when she performed at a Country Music Television special in 2022.
She sang an emotional duet with Willie Nelson's son, Lukas Nelson at Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Loretta Lynn.
They performed Lay Me Down - a song Loretta originally recorded with Willie for her 2016 album, Full Circle.
The tearjerking tribute aired on October 31, 2022, just weeks after Loretta's death.
Other stars who performed included Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, and Alan Jackson.
Last year, Emma followed in Loretta's footsteps by making her debut at the Grand Ole Pry.
She played Loretta's guitar while singing "Memaw's Guitar."
The country veteran had gifted Emmy the instrument before she died.
Emmy commemorated her performance with a photo of her performing, as well as a black and white snap of her grandmother on the same stage decades earlier.
EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE
"Debut!! Honored to be a part of the Grand Ole Pray. So excited... Gonna be special... it’s all in honor of my grandma's birthday. Special group of humans playing," she wrote.
"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…
"I used to run from my family heritage and want to make my own path. 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 a part of me!"
Emmy concluded, "This is the start of a beautiful journey. Couldn’t be more excited."
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