If you are the Kentucky Derby, who do you get to sing the country’s national anthem ahead of the 150th Run for the Roses?
Asking a Kentucky native who is also a Grammy-award-winning country music star to do the honors would make sense, so that’s what the historic event decided to do. Wynonna Judd was asked if she would lend her voice to the Kentucky Derby, and she kindly obliged.
Though she did admit she was a little intimidated by the job the night before the event:
“I’ve done it before, but this is the Kentucky freakin’ Derby. And this is number one on my list. I’ve done the Super Bowl, I’ve done all these things in 40 years. This is number one.”
As a Kentuckian, Wynonna Judd knows that the annual race at Churchhill Downs is as big as it gets. She also knew that she had to meet the moment both with her voice and her outfit. You can’t just show up to the Kentucky Derby looking “well dressed.” You have to show up in your Sunday best, and often top that off with a larger-than-life hat.
Wynonna nailed it (some might disagree) when it came to her Kentucky Derby get-up:
Judd certainly looked the part, and when it came time for her to officially get the proceedings underway, the 59-year-old was ready. She might have started out a little shaky, but once she got comfortable within the song, she blew away all of the attendees at Churchhill Downs with a spirited performance of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Check it out:
