Wynonna Judd Emotionally Remembers Emmy Russell’s Grandmother Loretta Lynn Following Her Stunning “American Idol” Duet

Wynonna Judd felt honored to stand beside Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter, Emmy Russell, during their American Idol duet.

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The Grammy winner spoke to ET during the Season 22 finale on May 19, and she admitted that Loretta was one of the first people in the industry who showed her true kindness when she was getting her start in the 1980s.

“She gave me the shirt off her back, literally,” Wynonna shared. “And she was the first woman that hugged me in country music.”

Wynonna and Emmy, who was an American Idol Top 5 finalist, took the stage during the show’s grand finale to perform a mashup of Loretta Lynn’s Coal Miner’s Daughter and Wynonna Judd’s No One Else On Earth. Emmy likely knew she was in the presence of greatness during the duet, but she may not have understood that Wynonna thought the same.

“At some point in your life, you find yourself talking to someone in the family that’s carrying on what their ancestors started and that’s what she’s doing,” Wynonna continued.

Wynonna Judd forged a genuine friendship with Loretta Lynn as she became a country icon in her own right. And when Loretta passed away, Wynonna was one of the many who sang at her celebration of life memorial service.

Following Loretta’s death, Wynonna penned a heartfelt message on Instagram that detailed exactly why she cherished the late singer.

“Loretta has always been my favorite, from the time I can remember,” she wrote. “As a young girl, I learned about Loretta from listening to her on the Grand Ole Opry. She was the very first country concert I ever saw.”

“I got to meet her when I was 20 years old,” she continued. “As I walked into the CMA’s for the first time in 1984, she was the first person who came over and hugged me. Loretta was like an aunt to me.”

Loretta Lynn passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 90.

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