Loretta Lynn's Granddaughter Emmy Russell Reveals Why She Decided to Go Barefoot During “Idol” Performance (Exclusive)

On Monday night, Russell performed her original song "Skinny" and was voted into the Top 14

Emmy Russell is all about feeling grounded.

Speaking to PEOPLE after Monday night's episode of American Idol, Russell, 25 — who was voted into the Top 14 — revealed why she chose to perform barefoot.

"Some of the cast was saying it feels like we should strip me back and just be Emmy," she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"I think that was the best thing I could have possibly done," she continues. "I was really uncomfortable in something that I wore the other night, my little white boots, and so I was like, 'Guys, I have to strip it back. I don't feel like myself.' And I feel like I sang better."

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Russell performed her original song "Skinny," which she initially sang during her audition. As she waited for her name to be called to receive her fate, Russell says she was filled with anticipation.

"I was back there and I was just thinking so many good people have gone home, and so I was like, 'Well, if that person went home, and I surely might go home,'" she says.

Adding, "So I was preparing for the no, but I knew that I'd walk away with a song that I believed in and felt like me, so I was really peaceful. That's not normally how I feel, but I felt peaceful."

Earlier this month, Russell — who recovered from disordered eating in the recent years — opened up to PEOPLE about writing "Skinny" while she was in recovery and the healing it brought her.

"Whenever I wrote 'Skinny,' I felt a weight of responsibility. I don't need to go back to this. I know it's bad for me. And so the more that I sing it, it's almost like the more that I'm delivering myself as I'm singing it and I'm like, 'Oh, OK. Now I got that feeling out. Now I am above it,'" she said, adding that it's about "finding a creative outlet for all your pain and beauty."

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Overtime, she's also learned that it helps her connect with listeners.

"I think I learned with 'Skinny,' even though I have a couple songs that I really love and relate to, 'Skinny''s the one that I'm going to play because it feels like people connected to that one," she said. "Just being open with my experiences in life, hoping that people don't feel so alone."

Looking ahead, Russell said she hopes to continue to create that connection through music.

"I just want to keep on creating truthful art. I just want to keep on writing, and whether that's singing the song or singing it and writing for other people, I want to do this. This American Idol experience has solidified, 'Oh no, I want to do this for the rest of my life,'" she said.

On Monday night's episode, Abi Carter, Russell, Jack Blocker, Jayna Elise, Jordan Anthony, Julia Gagnon, Kaibrienne, Kayko, Mckenna Faith Brienholt, Mia Matthews, Nya, Roman Collins, Triston Harper and Will Moseley advanced to the next round.

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