Emmy had the perfect reason to play Loretta’s song.

KATY Perry has broken down to tears after watching a contestant sing her heart out on American Idol.

On Monday night’s episode, contestants got to choose one of three songs chosen by the judges: Katy, 39, Lionel Richie, 74, and Luke Bryan, 47, to sing in front of the audience and America.

One American Idol performance left Katy Perry in tears

The Top 8 had three songs to choose from and each was picked out by an Idol judge: Katy, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan

Contestant Emmy Russell blew everyone away with her performance

The last performer of the evening was Emmy Russell, 25, the granddaughter of the late singer Loretta Lynn, who sang her family member’s song Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Emmy revealed in a confessional, “I love singing from the heart. I think this is a perfect song for that.

“I mean, it’s my grandma’s song, can’t get much closer to the heart than your own blood.

“I know Coal Miner’s Daughter like the back of my hand. I think I want to do it [as it’s] almost like a way of hugging her.

“I need to be proud that I am a granddaughter of Loretta Lynn.”

The Tennessee native blew the judges and the audience away with her powerful performance.

Emmy picked Katy as the judge who chose that song, and she guessed correctly.

With a shaky voice from crying, the pop music singer said, “I chose this song not because Loretta Lynn is your grandma.

“I chose this song because you are Emmy Russell and you can do anything now as Emmy Russell.”

Emmy’s parents were also in the audience.

Katy Perry snaps her fans are ‘traitors’ after accusing star of ‘cutting her hair again’ in live American Idol outburst Loretta died in her sleep on October 4, 2022, in Nashville. She was 90 years old.

‘HER PERFORMANCE WAS MAGIC’

On X, formerly Twitter, American Idol fans shared their honest opinions on Emmy’s song choice.

One said, “That was such an incredible, beautiful performance from Emmy Russell in honor of her grandmother. Had me tearing up a bit. Such an incredible tribute. Loved it!”

“The performance from Emmy was MAGIC. It was so touching, so meaningful, what a wonderful song. Brought me to tears. Oh how times have changed from our grands and great grands,” stated another.

Emmy Russell sang her grandmother Loretta Lynn’s song Coal Miner’s Daughter

A third tweeted, “Dear America; if Emmy Russell doesn’t win #AmericanIdol this season, I will be really sad. But no matter what, she IS Emmy Russell, and she is INCREDIBLE.

“I was sobbing; Loretta would have been so proud of that performance.”

“She sang her grandmother’s song and did it justice,” a fourth said.

A fifth claimed, “Tonight was her best performance by far.”

Someone else wrote, “Emmy Russell did that! omg, I can tell that she felt this song and I’m happy for her! just beautiful.”

“She sounded incredible tonight, And it is also one of the best performances of the night this week,” a seventh said.

Katy said, ‘I chose this song because you are Emmy Russell and you can do anything now as Emmy Russell’

Fans praised Emmy on X, formerly Twitter, calling her performance ‘magic’