Emmy Russell is one of the five finalists on American Idol this season. She auditioned with “Skinny,” a song that she wrote about eating disorders. The judges rightly told her that she is a real songwriter. She nailed the audition, but in the following weeks she showed a lot of nerves.
On one of her performances her hand with the microphone shook like a leaf. It was doubtful that she could win approval once the voting switched from the judges to the public. She was not one of the best voices, and she did have much of a stage presence. What she did have going for her was her sweet smile and disposition. You cannot help but like her. She is so sweet to Ryan Seacrest and her fellow competitors.
Now she has made it to the Top 5. A couple of weeks ago she sat at the piano and played “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” It was a song that Katy Perry picked for her to perform. After having delivered a stellar performance and bringing the house down, Katy told her, “I did not pick this song because you are Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter. I picked it because you are Emmy Russell, and you can do anything.”
In the late 1960’s, my band was fortunate enough to open for Loretta Lynn in Atlanta. When we arrived at the arena, her band had just finished their sound check. She asked if we would mind using their equipment so that they would not have to set up a second time. We were thrilled to oblige, since our equipment sounded like toy instruments compared to hers. I was able to play my trumpet into her PA, and use her keyboards and microphone on a couple of songs.
As we were leaving the stage and she was just coming on she told us, “Y’all did real good boys.” We used that quote in all of our publicity going forward. It was a pretty good endorsement. We were honored to be able to share that stage with her.
When Emmy was young she used to travel some with her grandmother, and even sing with her on a song or two. She loved her grandmother. Both she and her mother strongly favor her. It was not easy for Emmy to compete on American Idol. She had quit singing in public. You could see why. People expected her to be Loretta Lynn. In response to that first audition, Lionel Richie told her, “We are all trying to overcome something. In your case it is big shoes. Now if we can just get you to put those shoes back into the closet.”
Emmy’s competition goes on. I doubt that she will go much further. She does not have the best voice or best stage presence. My hope is that one day she will do what Carole King did. She quit writing for other people, and start singing her own songs. You do not have to have the best voice to be loved. Look at Joe Cocker and Richie Havens. What they did have was sincerity and integrity in their voice and their music.
It took a lot of courage for Emmy Russell to take that stage on American Idol. She put down her pen and picked up the microphone. She turned left.
Turn Left 