Emmy Russell got twirled around and revved up by Kiss legend Gene Simmons before taking the “American Idol” stage Sunday.

Emmy Russell, the granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, competes on “American Idol” on Monday, April 8, 2024, on ABC.Disney

Russell is the granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, and a big part of her journey on this season of “American Idol” has been the judge’s attempting to get her to come out of her shell. She can be timid at times, and she has been open and emotional about dealing with such things.

It has made for compelling television.

Simmons was a celebrity mentor for Sunday’s show, and he did his best to coach her up, focusing on getting her to be open and free.

“When Emmy came in, I immediately saw the tightness, which is your enemy by the way because on stage you will wilt like a flower that hasn’t been getting water,” Simmons said.

To help remedy that, Simmons shocked Russell with a yell, something he said was meant to bring her out of her shell.

He also drew an emotional reaction from her, too.

“You’ve got a great voice,” Simmons told her. “I can’t sing like that.”

“I have read the comments,” Russell said, referencing comments on social media videos of her performances. “She should stick to song writing. She can’t sing like her grandma. So, when Gene told me he liked my voice, it was really validating.”

Russell sang Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” on the show.

“The realness of your voice is so listenable,” Luke Bryan told her after the performance. “I mean I have full body chills, and we have singers coming up here dancing and belting songs through the roof, but the realness and innocence that you are able to do week in and week out is your thing and it’s very, very special.

“Just keep doing it.”

“That was great,” Lionel Richie told her.

“Emmy, you are not competing against any of those people, you are competing against yourself,” Katy Perry told her. “And tonight you won.”