Emmy Russell opens up about getting eliminated from 'American Idol': 'I know I'm chosen'

Emmy Russell is reflecting on her “American Idol” journey.

The singer, 25, who is the granddaughter of late country legend Loretta Lynn, was eliminated from the singing competition on May 12 after making it to the top five.

"I didn't make top three, but that was God's plan," she said in an Instagram video on May 13.

"It's funny because before I got eliminated I really felt like I think God told me, he was like, 'Emmy, you're not going to be chosen by America, but I chose you.' And so there was no sense of, 'Why wasn't I chosen?' I know I'm chosen. It's like, whenever a boy is like, 'I don't want to go out with you anymore.' And you're like, 'OK, but I know I'm loved.'"

Russell also thinks she can grow from her experience.

"And so for me, the point of being here is you can be yourself and be successful. Don't run from rejection of pain and facing hard things," she said.

Russell also pointed to Miley Cyrus' hit "The Climb," which she sang on "American Idol."

"I really think that she says it best. It's like sometimes you're going to have to lose. It's not about how fast you get there. It's not about what's waiting on the other side. It's the climb."

Russell raised eyebrows when she covered one of her grandma’s most iconic songs on the April 29 episode of "American Idol."

She played piano and delivered a stripped-down version of Lynn's 1970 song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” which Lynn wrote based on her experiences growing up in rural Kentucky. 

“We were poor but we had love / That’s the one thing that Daddy made sure of / He shoveled coal to make a poor man’s dollar,” Russell sang in the first verse.

Russell’s voice seemed to break with emotion as she delivered the final lines of the song: “Not much left but the floors, nothing lives here anymore / Except the memories of a coal miner’s daughter.”

Here’s a look at how the young singer has honored her grandmother’s memory throughout her time on “American Idol.”

Russell opened up about the emotional experience of singing Lynn’s best-known song in a tearful Instagram video the day after her performance.

“I just was closing my eyes and I was listening back to ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’ whenever I did it on 'American Idol,' and I just saw, like, a vision of me being up in heaven,” Russell said through tears in the video.

“I just saw God just bring my grandma, and me just really give her a deep hug of, like, I miss you, I love you, and I feel like you get it now,” she continued.

She added that the experience of singing her grandma's song “brought on healing to my heart.”

Many fans praised Russell’s performance, which earned her a spot in the Top 7.

“She kept the vocal in such a soft storytelling mode, but with a few higher notes to make an emphasis,” one person commented on the official YouTube video of her performance. “Her grandmother is looking down proud, along with her friend, Patsy Cline.”

“Best performance of the season. She needs to release this as a cover,” another person wrote.

“I believe it’s pretty rare for an artist to sing an enormously popular song and make me believe they are telling me their own life story. That was absolutely amazing and such a beautiful way to honor her grandma,” another fan commented.

On April 14, Russell sang her original song, “Want You,” for her Top 20 performance on "American Idol."

Many fans praised Russell’s vocals and songwriting, with one person calling her “authentic and timeless.”

“This performance is like a painting,” the fan commented on the official YouTube video of her performance. “She’s got soul. What a songwriter too.”

“Emmy we love you! you’re so adorable and beautiful,” another person commented on YouTube. “Your voice is love so pure and angelic and your songwriting is amazing.”

Russell’s performance happened to fall on what would have been the birthday of her late grandmother, who died at age 90 in 2022.

“Emmy, your grandmother would’ve been proud to see you tonight on this, her 92th birthday,” one fan commented on YouTube.

Lynn’s official Instagram account also celebrated Russell’s performance. 

“What a birthday gift! Loretta’s granddaughter Emmy just made Top 20 on @americanidol!” read a caption on the late country icon’s Instagram page.

“Emmy was born on Doo and Loretta’s anniversary and now we have this milestone on Loretta’s birthday!" the caption continued, referring to Lynn's husband, Oliver "Doolittle" Lynn, who died in 1996.

"Loretta told all who would listen that Emmy had something special and now the world is seeing for themselves," the caption concluded. "Congrats, Emmy!”

“Want You" seemed to be about unrequited love, and wanting someone more than they want you.

“I want you to want me like I want you / I want you to need me like I need you,” the chorus goes. “If you’re gonna leave me, then cut me loose / I want you to want me.”

The song’s lyrics inspired a funny moment between Luke Bryan and Ryan Seacrest following Russell’s performance. 

“Love me like I love you!” Seacrest said to the judges in mock despair.

“Ryan, I’ll give you a hug,” Bryan said, and he got up on stage to embrace Seacrest — at which point Seacrest jumped fully into his arms.

“That was a moment!” Lionel Richie said from the judges’ table.

During her “American Idol” audition, which aired in February, Russell opened up about wanting to step out from under her famous grandmother’s shadow.

“I think there’s a reason why I think I am a little timid, and I think it is because I want to own my voice,” she told the judges. “I want to own it. That’s why I want to challenge myself and come here.”

Perhaps for that reason, she auditioned with a poignant original song called “Skinny,” which is about dealing with an eating disorder, and didn't immediately mention her famous relation.

While surprised by Russell's country music connection, the judges assured her that she was already finding her own voice.

“Emmy, you’re an A-plus songwriter, so is your grandma,” Perry told Russell. “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.”