Emmy Russell made waves on the American Idol season until she ended up in the Top 5 group.

With her incredible singing and songwriting skills, she quickly won the hearts of the Idol audience as well as the judges. And this isn’t her first rodeo, either. Russell performed at the Grand Ol’ Opry and was newly established in the country music industry.

Russell is the niece of country music legend Loretta Lynn. In a recent interview, Russell revealed some important advice the “You Ain’t Woman Enough” hitmaker gave her years ago.

“While performing, I will sing a song that everyone knows, which is ‘If I Die Young,’” Russell explained to the Biscuits & Jam Podcast. “And then I’ll sing an original song. Memaw always told me to do that because everyone wants to sing along with you. But if you want to share your heart, do that too, but not too much.”

Russell was only 11 years old when “memaw” gave her this advice, which she still remembers to this day.

She’s definitely a big hope for victory, but there are quite a few other fan-favorite contestants vying for the top spot on American Idol.

At the age of 25, Russell entered the competition with the goal of being challenged. She has since won the show’s golden ticket after performing a heartfelt original song in her audition, instead of another musician’s cover. The song titled “Skinny” talks about the sensitive issue of eating disorders.

“Sometimes Memaw is a little too honest,” Russell says of the original track. “I think that’s what motivated me to write a song like ‘Skinny’. […] I think I’m completely different from my grandmother, but someone commented and said, ‘She’s a lot like her, because it’s a bold song to sing like a lot of her contemporaries were also very daring. ‘”

Country music legend’s granddaughter makes big move after ‘American Idol’

Emmy Russell, the granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, competes on “American Idol” on Monday, April 8, 2024, on ABC.Disney

Emmy Russell didn’t make the “American Idol” finale, but she is hitting the ground running.

The granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn released a new, original single, “Redemption,” this week.

“I wrote ‘Redemption’ because I process life through music and this song is what came out of a painful breakup,” she reportedly said. “There was a time when I placed all my value in someone else’s hands. But eventually, I had to realize I was constantly being tossed between ‘I love you’ and ‘I don’t love you.’”

Russell’s evolution — how she overcame her nerves to perform — was a key storyline during this season of “Idol.” It appears this song is a continuation of that process.

“This song represents my decision to no longer be the person you come back to when it’s convenient,” she said. “In my telling him, ‘It’s over,’ I found my redemption in being alone and admitting to myself, ‘I don’t deserve this,’ which led me to a door I’d been craving to open … I finally realized my worth by looking to God, then letting the truth that ‘I am loved,’ sink in. Now I know, no guy, nor anyone else, can take that away from me. I am loved and now, that’s my redemption.”

Parade reported that Russell would be returning to “American Idol” for the final, even though she is not among the finalists.

Russell addressed fans last week after failing to make the top three.

“Thank you so much for all the love, all the voting,” Russell said in a video posted to her Instagram.

“I didn’t make Top 3, but that’s part of — that was God’s plan,” she reportedly said. “Before I got eliminated, I think God told me, he was like, ‘Emmy, you’re not gonna be chosen by America, but I chose you.”

Russell again stated her appreciation for her time on the show.

“I know I’m chosen,” she added. “It’s like whenever a boy is like, ‘I don’t wanna go out with you anymore.’ And you’re like, ‘OK, but I know I’m loved.”

Russell talked about being herself and being successful on the show.

“Don’t run from rejection or pain, and facing hard things … ” she said. “I sang ‘The Climb’ from Miley Cyrus, and I really think that she says it best. Sometimes you’re gonna have to lose … it’s the climb. The climb is Abraham’s promised land … the promise is the climb with God.”