Country legend Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Emmy Russell, didn’t necessarily want to perform her grandmother’s iconic song while appearing on « American Idol » last year.
During an appearance on « The Thrivalist Podcast, » the country singer revealed that while it wasn’t her idea to sing « Coal Miner’s Daughter » during the competition show, she didn’t walk away with any regrets.
« Judges picked three songs, and the only one I knew was ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,' » Russell said of then-judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. « I just remember seeing that and I was… so mad. »
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Fearful of « nepotism » backlash from viewers, Russell said she had a feeling that the song would only fuel the fire. However, she carried on and pushed forward with the performance.
« I just felt that still, small voice saying, ‘I need you to stay, and I need you to show up,' » she said. « And I got on the piano and I played ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ for the vocal coaches. It was just how I wanted to play it. I had this entire vision for it. »
Fox News Digital has reached out to « American Idol » for comment.
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Lynn, who died in 2022 at age 90, had 17 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Russell, who made the Top 5 before being eliminated, opened up about her love for music.
« I’m a songwriter, » the young singer said in a video that was featured on « American Idol. » « It’s in my blood. When I was about 9, I wrote my first real song. »
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« Whenever you share a song, it’s very vulnerable. Anything I feel, I write. It just starts coming out of me. I go to my iPhone and my piano – it is my best friend whenever it comes to music. I feel a melody, I go to my iPhone, record it. A lyric, go to it, record it. »
At the time of her appearance, Russell was no stranger to the limelight. Lynn would often bring her granddaughter on stage when she still did concerts.
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During an appearance on Southern Living’s « Biscuits & Jam » podcast, Russell said, « Memaw [her name for Lynn] passed down her guitar to me when I was 15 at the Ryman Auditorium. She said, ‘You’re the one that can do it.’ She always thought I had this spark about me ever since I was a little kid. She felt she needed to give me the guitar as the torch in a way. »
« Lord knows it if I can’t hold that. That’s too much, » she added.
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Publish date : 2025-02-24 16:12:00
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