SD. Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter & Willie Nelson’s Son Perform Loretta & Willie’s Powerful Duet
💔 A Tribute That Stopped Time
In one of the most emotional musical moments in recent country history, Emmy Russell — granddaughter of the late Loretta Lynn — joined Lukas Nelson, son of Willie Nelson, to perform a duet that brought tears to an entire nation. The song, “Lay Me Down,” was the only duet ever recorded by Loretta and Willie themselves — a hauntingly beautiful reflection on love, peace, and life’s final journey.
Their performance took place during Loretta Lynn’s public memorial service at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on October 30, 2022, broadcast live by CMT. Fans across the world tuned in to witness two musical bloodlines intertwining — not just through melody, but through legacy.
🎶 The Song That Defined a Friendship
Though Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson shared a decades-long friendship, they only ever recorded one duet together: “Lay Me Down,” released in 2016. The lyrics, filled with quiet acceptance and faith, now carry even deeper meaning:
“When they lay me down someday, my soul will rise, then fly away.
This old world will turn around.
I’ll be at peace when they lay me down.”
After Loretta’s passing on October 4, 2022, at age 90, Willie paid tribute to his dear friend, writing:
“Loretta was a good friend and fantastically talented. She was a great writer, singer, and human being. I’ll miss her a lot.”
🌹 A New Generation Carries the Flame
At the memorial, Lukas and Emmy’s rendition of “Lay Me Down” silenced the Opry. No flashy lights. No theatrics. Just two voices and a song that seemed to echo straight from heaven.
CMT later described their performance as “emotional and transcendent” — and it earned them a 2023 CMT Music Award nomination for Performance of the Year.
On the red carpet, Emmy reflected on the wisdom her grandmother had passed down:
“The most advice that she has given me throughout the years was to love God,” Emmy said. “She was such a lover of God and I think it was more of, ‘Listen to Him and follow His voice.’”
🌟 The Legacy Lives On
Following the tribute, Emmy Russell continued her grandmother’s legacy on American Idol Season 22, where she reached the Top 5 and moved audiences with her raw, heartfelt performances. Lukas, meanwhile, continues to build on his father’s outlaw-country roots while pushing boundaries in modern Americana.
Together, their duet reminded fans that country music’s greatest stories never truly end — they live on in the hearts, voices, and songs of those who come after.
🎥 Watch Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson’s unforgettable “Lay Me Down” tribute below — a performance that would make Loretta and Willie proud.
