Emmy Russell Honors Her Grandmother Loretta Lynn With Emotional Grand Ole Opry Tribute
Emmy Russell, the granddaughter of country legend Loretta Lynn, is keeping her family’s musical legacy alive — and her latest performance at the Grand Ole Opry proved that the torch has truly been passed.
A Granddaughter’s Tribute
During the Opry 100 Honors: Loretta Lynn celebration, Emmy took the stage to perform “Lay Me Down,” the moving duet her grandmother originally recorded with Willie Nelson. The stripped-down, heartfelt performance silenced the room and filled it with emotion.
The Grand Ole Opry shared a clip of the performance on Instagram, captioning it:
“Absolute chills hearing Emmy Russell honor her grandmother with ‘Lay Me Down.’”
Fans echoed that sentiment, flooding the comments with love and admiration:
“Love her voice. Loretta is smiling down from heaven.”
“So amazing… your GMA would be so proud.”
“You so deserve to be in that circle of wood! I know your grandma would be standing beside you if she could.”
Finding Her Voice After Doubt
Though Emmy Russell now carries her grandmother’s legacy with pride, the journey to embracing that role wasn’t easy. For years, she hesitated to step into the music world, afraid of being compared to Loretta Lynn or labeled for nepotism.
Her turning point came during her time on American Idol, where she performed her grandmother’s signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” The performance moved audiences nationwide and carried her deep into the competition — just shy of the finale.
But as Emmy later revealed on The Thrivalist Podcast with Jamie George, she initially resisted singing it.
“They actually let the judges pick three songs, and the only one I knew was ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter.’ I was already facing so much, trying to act in courage, and when I saw that song choice, I was mad. I thought, ‘Ugh.’”
She worried the performance might make it seem like she was relying on her famous name rather than her own talent.
“It was weird because I still felt that still small voice say, ‘I need you to stay, and I need you to show up.’ And I got on the piano and played it the way I wanted to play it.”
Grieving and Healing Through Song
Performing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” carried an emotional weight for Emmy — not only because of its legacy but also because of her grief.
Loretta Lynn passed away in October 2022 at the age of 90, at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
“When I saw the song choice, there was immense sadness,” Emmy shared. “It’s my grandma’s song. Can’t get much closer to the heart than your own blood.”
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Now, standing on the same stage her grandmother once commanded, Emmy Russell has begun to find her own voice in country music — one rooted in heritage but guided by heart.
Her performance of “Lay Me Down” wasn’t just a tribute. It was a declaration that Loretta Lynn’s spirit still lives on — not only through her music but through her granddaughter’s courage to keep singing.