Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter, ‘American Idol’ Singer Emmy Russell, Welcomes First Child

Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter, ‘American Idol’ Singer Emmy Russell, Welcomes First Child

Monica Schipper, Getty Images

Loretta Lynn's granddaughter, former American Idol contestant Emmy Russell, has welcomed her first child.

Southern Living reports that 26-year-old Russell gave birth to a baby girl on Friday (Jan. 31). The baby's father is her longtime boyfriend, musician Tyler Ward.

Ward turned to social media to share the news on Saturday (Feb. 1), sharing a video of himself gently cradling the baby, with the words, "She's 12 hours old" superimposed.

"Healthy baby," he writes to accompany the video, adding the hashtags #newborn and #girldad.

Russell herself was among the many who commented, writing, "All worth it."

The couple have not yet shared their baby's name.

The previous night, the couple shared a video of themselves sharing their last evening together before the baby arrived.

"Tonight us, tomorrow parents," Russell wrote, adding, "Can’t wait to see who you are as a dad and who I am as a mom, but know I’ll always cherish when it was just us."

Russell is wearing a ring in the video, and her mother, Patsy Russell, confirms to Southern Living that the couple are now married.

Russell first shared the news of her pregnancy during an episode of the Got It From My Momma podcast with her mother. Patsy Russell's mother was Loretta Lynn, while Emmy Russell is Lynn's granddaughter.

Russell was a standout contestant during Season 22 of American Idol in 2024, giving strong performances of her original song, "Skinny," as well as covers from Blink-182, Bonnie Raitt, Miley Cyrus and more. One of her most striking performances was a cover of her legendary grandmother's career-defining song, "Coal Miner's Daughter."

The singer has been staying busy since completing her run on American Idol in May of 2024. She released her debut single, "Redemption," later that same month.

Country Stars Who Have Had Babies in 2024

The country music family certainly grew in 2024! Several country singers have either welcomed new babies this year, or they have announced a new bundle of joy is on the way.

A few of our country families have grown substantially this year - we're looking at you, Jessie James Decker - while others are becoming parents for the first time.

Keep scrolling to see which country singers have welcomed babies this year.

Gallery Credit: Jess

PICTURES: See Inside Loretta Lynn's Historic First Nashville Home

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

PICTURES: Look Inside Loretta Lynn's Luxurious Nashville Home

Loretta Lynn's luxurious former home outside of Nashville is for sale, and pictures show a property that's a perfect mix of classy and cozy. The country queen's 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 3,409-square-foot home in a rural community outside of Nashville is listed for sale for $799,000, and that price includes a residence that is "finished to a T," according to its listing. The beautiful home sits on more than five acres of rural land directly on the river, offering direct access for canoeing and kayaking. The rural property is just two minutes from I-40, offering an easy commute into Nashville, and it also offers easy access to schools, stores, dining options and more amenities that are just minutes away.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

5 Banned Songs by Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn — the Queen of Country Music — died on October 4, 2022, but she leaves behind an incomparable legacy of music. Lynn wasn't afraid to push the boundaries of the conservative country music of her time and write about what she truly felt. On some occasions, country fans and radio balked at her raw songwriting. Many of her songs were labeled "controversial" and some of them were even banned from airplay. However, Lynn managed to gain fans and have a successful career through her honest music, and she paved the way for other artists to do the same. Here are 5 of Loretta Lynn's most controversial songs.

Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He's interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.

Filed Under: Loretta Lynn