Audrey GibbsNashville Tennessean
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Nashville singer-songwriter Emmy Russell came out of her shell on "American Idol" this season. She battled stage fright and self-doubt with America watching, and now she feels more herself than she ever has.
The 25-year-old granddaughter of Loretta Lynn left Music City for Hollywood, vying her way to the Top 5 of the singing show's 22nd season.
She was voted out before making her way to the Top 3, but sang on the season's finale with Wynonna Judd.
More: How American Idol's Emmy Russell continues Loretta Lynn's legacy and what else to know
Throughout the 'Idol' process, America fell in love with Emmy Russell's earnestness, her honesty and her spritely, airy voice.
Russell, who was born and raised in Tennessee, has finally made her way back to Nashville after spending nearly two months in Hollywood.
To reflect on her time on 'Idol'—both the good and bad—and what is coming next for her, Russell sat down for a chat with The Tennessean.
Emmy Russell reflects on choosing to pursue music, her time on 'Idol'
Russell grew up singing with her "Memaw" and writing songs. But Russell was nearly ready to give up on pursuing music professionally in 2017.
From 2017 to the end of 2021, she decided to travel to Brazil and Hawaii as a missionary.
"I literally threw away music for like six years. And then I came back two years after my mission. I was like, 'I think I'm gonna do this.'"
A little after Russell's return to the U.S. in October 2022, her "Memaw" died at the age of 90 at the family's ranch in Hurricane Mills. For Russell, Lynn's death played a role in her decision to fully dive back into pursuing music.
Russell remembers Lynn telling her: "Why are you running? Don't go to Brazil, don't go to Kona (Hawaii), God gave you a tool. Don't bury it, use it."
Before Lynn died, Russell got some time alone with her.
She remembers telling her grandmother that she was going to do it—she was going to go all in on her music career. "You know, she always really believed in me," Russell said of her grandmother.
In August 2023, Russell released her single "Skinny," a song reflecting on her struggles with an eating disorder. From there, "American Idol" DMed her on social media, saying they had seen the song and asking if she'd consider auditioning for the show.
A singing competition was something Russell had not considered up until that point, but she took the opportunity and ran with it.
Russell hit the stage15 timesduring the "American Idol" season 22, singing hits by Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Blink-182 and more. She was praised by judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
Of all her performances on the show, she said singing "Coal Miner's Daughter" and her original song "Skinny" meant the most to her.
"I just think that it's my story. Growing up, getting picked on, having an eating disorder....you're feeling those pressures to look a certain way. I just want to be skinny," she said about singing song "Skinny."
Being able to share that story was daunting for Russell, but important.
More: Watch all of Emmy Russell's performances on 'American Idol' including her final song on the show
Performing with Wynonna Judd, too, was a top moment for Russell. Loretta Lynn was very close to Judd, Russell said, so it was meaningful for the two to duet on Lynn's 1971 song "Coal Miner's Daughter."
"There was no other duet partner I really want to be with...she held my hand the entire time. There just (was) a really strong connection, almost like a sister," Russell said.
She even said her and Judd share the same motto: "To thine own self be true."
Upon being voted out by America on May 12, Russell felt at peace.
"I was really grateful for the show. I think I've got everything that I needed to receive," she said, adding that the season's winner Abi Carter is "awesome."
"I feel more myself than I ever have since doing 'American Idol,'" Russell said.
"I feel like some people can lose themselves in the process, but I really feel like I've been finding more of myself during the show," she said.
Russell said that her time on the show caused her to heal some of the things she was facing, fears she didn't even know she had, like stage fright. Prior to going on the show, she said she had only had two significant onstage performances—one onstage with grandmother, and another at the Grand Ole Opry.
One challenging instance for Russell was when she sang "Coal Miner's Daughter" on the show, she said she had panic attacks in the dressing room.
"That was such a heavy thing for me," she said.
But when she got onstage, she just rode it out. "Honestly, I came out feeling really brave."
What will Emmy Russell do next?
On May 17, Russell released her latest single "Redemption," a pop-leaning moody breakup song.
She sings, "Don't you think that it's too late for redemption? / Now you're finally realizing what you're missing / You broke it and you think I'll let you fix it."
On June 1, she'll take the stage at the Grand Ole Opry yet again. Russell also said she will be releasing new tunes within the year, but isn't ready to announce anything.
And although Russell said she was recognized five times at lunch when she first got back to Tennessee, she's not sure how much her life will change post-'Idol.'
"I really do feel like my life's gonna be very similar, like the same as it is now. I don't know, it could completely change...I guess I'll have to face that moment whenever I come to it."
