This year's "American Idol" has begun, and the show is searching for yet another musician with big music talent that could potentially win the entire season. In the recent episode, Loretta Lynn's granddaughter Emmy Russell defied all odds and went to audition; watch her emotional piece below.
According to Taste of Country, the judges immediately noticed how quiet and timid Russell was and judge Lionel Richie told her that they would need to "turn" her up some more.
She later explained that one of the reasons why she appeared timid was because she wanted to find her own voice and challenge herself to have an identity outside her family's legacy.
"I wanna own my voice... That's why I wanna challenge myself and come out here," she added.
Emmy Russell Auditions With an Original Song
Russell chose an original song as her audition piece. It was titled "Skinny" and she mentioned that she wrote it about her experience with an eating disorder.
Loretta Lynn's granddaughter sat down on the piano and sang her heart out and the judges were left emotional because of how she embodied the track.
"Emmy, you're an A+ songwriter... So was your grandma. You got the gift. I don't think you need to compare yourself to what grandma was. You're totally different. You shouldn't give yourself all that pressure," judge Katy Perry told the rising star.
READ ALSO: Loretta Lynn Gave Best Advice to Granddaughter Before Death
Luke Bryan was happy with the audition, but he noted that she needed a little lifting and to be more confident with her song.
"You just need to own it," he added.
Emmy Russell Has an Impressive Resumé
Although Russell didn't share more about her musical journey, the outlet noted that she has an impressive resumé as she already performed on some of the biggest stages within the music industry.
She made her Grande Ole Opry debut in April 2023. She sang the track "Memaw's Guitar" as a tribute to the late Loretta Lynn.
In addition, she previously released a duet with Lukas Nelson titled "Lay Me Down" which was originally sung by Lynn and Willie Nelson.
It earned a nomination for CMT Performance of the Year at the CMT Music Awards last year.
Loretta Lynn died in October 2022 in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, due to natural causes. She was 90 years old.
READ MORE: What Was Loretta Lynn's Cause of Death?
