Emmy Russell is continuous on her late grandmother’s legacy — what might be a greater birthday present than that? Loretta Lynn‘s 25-year-old granddaughter shocked American Idol judges and viewers alike with a uncooked efficiency of an unique music titled “Need You” on the present’s Sunday (April 14) episode, which aired the identical day the legendary singer-songwriter would have turned 92. 

Taking the stage backdropped by a blue display screen of heavenly clouds, Russell channeled the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” star in a puffy-sleeved, collared floral gown and boots. Assisted by a backup band, she delivered crystal clear vocals whereas singing her self-written lyrics: “I would like you to need me like I would like you/ I would like you to wish me like I would like you/ For those who’re gonna depart me, then minimize me unfastened/ I would like you to need me.” 

When cameras minimize to the panel of judges, Katy Perry smiled, whereas Luke Bryan appeared mesmerized by the younger hopeful’s shifting efficiency. 

After the efficiency, Lynn’s official Instagram account posted a photograph of Russell and wrote, “What a birthday present!”  

“Emmy was born on [Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn] and Loretta’s anniversary and now we’ve this milestone on Loretta’s birthday!” the caption continued. “Loretta informed all who would hear that Emmy had one thing particular and now the world is seeing for themselves.” 

The episode — which discovered this season’s prime 20 contestants going face to face because the competitors pool continues to be narrowed down — got here precisely 92 years after Lynn was born in Butcher Hole, Ky. A 3-time Grammy winner, she stays considered one of nation music’s most prolific songwriters and scored 42 prime 10 entries on the Prime Nation Albums chart earlier than her dying at age 90 in 2022. 

Perry, Bryan and Lionel Richie had been flabbergasted to seek out out about Russell’s well-known lineage when the Nashville-based artist first auditioned for Idol, for which she carried out one other unique music — “Skinny.” “My grandma’s a rustic singer so I grew up singing,” she informed the judges on the time, with Richie exclaiming after the massive reveal, “Your grandma is … what?!”  

“You’ve bought the present,” Perry informed Russell after her audition. “I don’t assume you should examine your self to what grandma was … you’re completely completely different, you shouldn’t give your self all that strain.” 

Watch Russell’s efficiency of “Need You” above, and see the publish from Loretta Lynn’s Instagram under.