Legendary country singer Loretta Lynn's granddaughter, Amy Russell, is heading to Hollywood.
The 24-year-old songwriter auditioned for "American Idol" on Sunday night's show and impressed judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan with her powerful song "Skinny."
Before Russell came to audition, the judges apparently didn't know her pedigree. "Growing up, I sang all my life," she says as she introduces herself. "I just love writing. I am 24 years old. Composer, I love **. I don't sing that loud anymore, but growing up, I was with ......My grandmother was a country singer and sang together on the road. ”
Who is your grandmother?Brian asked.
Russell shocked the judges by revealing her relationship with Lynn, and then she led the crew on a tour of the country legend's ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. "My family grew up here, my mom grew up here. This is my meowth house," she said. "She's one of the greatest country singers of all time, but for me, she's just my grandma, growing up on the bus, and it's all normal for me. ”
The judges lightly criticized Russell for being quiet and shy. "I think I'm a little timid for a reason, and I think it's because I want to have my voice, I want to have it," she explained. "That's why I wanted to challenge myself to come here, to really step in and say 'okay, come Amy'".
Later, Russell's mother, Patsy Lynn (also a country singer in The Lynns group in the '90s), reacted to her daughter's nervousness. "She just wanted to be honest and say 'that's who I am, that's what I do, this is my heart,'" she explained. "I think when you come from a family, the shadow is big. How do I fill these shoes?Well, the truth is, you don't need to. You create your own shadow. ”
Russell won praise from the judges with his powerful voice and emotionally charged lyrics such as "I haven't eaten in days God I hate you for creating me" and "So Traveling the World to Hold the Orphan Girl's Hand Seeing the War and Feeling the Pain and Miracles All in His Name." ”
Perry praised her songwriting abilities but encouraged her to speak and perform more confidently. "Amy, you're an A+ songwriter. It's the same with your grandmother, you have talent," she said. "I don't think you need to compare yourself to your grandmother – you're completely different and you shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself. I feel like you're coming in like a mouse. ”
Rich echoed her sentiments. "Honey, you have commitments, I like your commitments," he said. "Each of us struggles with what we want to overcome. In your case, you have big shoes. Now if I can get you to put those shoes back in the closet, they aren't your size. ”
Brian also encouraged her to embrace her voice. "We just need to cheer you up and make you more confident, and you just have to have it. ”
All three judges ultimately voted "yes" to Russell, meaning she would take her talent to Hollywood and sing in the next round.
Russell reflected on the experience at the end of her presentation. "I'm thinking about my grandma, but I'm also thinking 'Emmy, she's with you, and now it's your turn,'" she said. "I think I'm more like her now than when I tried to be like her. I'm excited. ”
American Idol airs every Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.