Did Loretta Lynn's granddaughter make 'American Idol' Top 8? Emmy Russell sings Blink-182
Audrey Gibbs
On Sunday night, Nashvillian Emmy Russell hit the stage on "American Idol" yet again to vie for her spot in the singing competition's Top 8.
The 25-year-old granddaughter of Loretta Lynn performed Blink-182's song "All The Small Things," a hit from 1999. The theme for the evening's episode "Year of Birth." Each contestant practiced and performed a hit song from their birth year.
Russell's performance was met from praise by judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
Did Emmy Russell make the Top 8 on 'American Idol'?
Yes, Emmy Russell made the Top 8 on 'American Idol' on Sunday night's episode.
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Twenty-one million voters cast their votes on April 28. Russell was the last name to be called to join the Top 8.
Who was the guest mentor on 'American Idol' on Sunday?
The guest mentor for Sunday, April 28's episode was country singer Shania Twain.
"I love Shania Twain. She's literally the queen of pop-country," Russell said.
Twain did some fangirling herself.
"There's no Shania Twain without Loretta Lynn," she said about Russell's grandmother while also praising Russell's own talents.
Twain encouraged Russell to relax and jump around to loosen up ahead of her performance.
What to know:How American Idol's Emmy Russell continues Loretta Lynn's legacy
After Twain heard Russell's practice performance of "All The Small Things," she said the song sounded "almost too easy for her." She told Russell to try breaking into falsetto or spice the song up with a "yodel."
Twain also noted that Russell has "wonderful chokes and cracks and air" in her voice, adding that the song "All The Small Things" is perfectly suited to Russell's voice and she expected her to do a great job.
How was Emmy Russell's performance on 'American Idol' on Sunday?
Russell took to the stage wearing black, simply standing with the mic and no instrument in hand to perform pop-punk band Blink-182' hit "All The Small Things."
Her simple, acoustic performance of "All The Small Things" stripped away much of the punk energy from the hit, trading it in for a relaxed singer-songwriter version of the song.
The softer rendition had fans clapping along as Russell sang, "Say it ain't so, I will not go / Turn the lights off, carry me home / Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na, na, na."
What did the judges say about Emmy Russell's Blink-182 performance?
After the performance, Lionel Richie said, "The whole time you're singing I am smiling myself into pain over here...You have a real story-telling purity voice.
"I saw something on that last performance I really enjoyed...you having fun," he continued. "You were actually relaxed."
"Yes, Miss Emmy, comfortable looks good on you," Katy Perry said. "You really are kinda growing into this."
"You incorporated those yodels just like Shania requested; they sounded great. You sounded the most solid through and through from A to Z that I have ever heard you."
Luke Bryan spoke last, adding, "If you would've told me a month and a half ago one of your best vocals would be a Blink-182 song...that's what's so fun about this show."
Bryan said Russell was able to relax and become free with her vocals, telling Russell that America loves her.
Which contestants made the Top 8 on 'American Idol' 2024? Who was eliminated?
The two eliminated contestants were Mia Matthews and Sam “Kayko” Kelly-Cohen.
The Top 8 contestants for "American Idol" season 22 are:
- McKenna Faith Breinholt
- Jack Blocker
- Will Moseley
- Abi Carter
- Kaibrienne Richins
- Emmy Russell
- Julia Gagnon
- Triston Harper
The next episode of "American Idol" airs on Monday, April 29, where contestants will compete for the Top 6. Fans can watch the show on ABC.