Wynonna Judd sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 150th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Churchill Downs scheduled the anthem for just after 5 p.m. EDT, during NBC’s live Derby coverage, and the Associated Press reported from the track on race day that Judd was there to sing it.
When and where the performance took place
The table below lists the core details. Each row is attributed to the source that states it. Churchill Downs’ announcement was issued on April 12, 2024, and the Associated Press report is from race day.
| Detail | What the record shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Performer | Wynonna Judd | Churchill Downs announcement; Associated Press |
| Song | “The Star-Spangled Banner” | Churchill Downs announcement |
| Event | 150th Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve | Churchill Downs announcement |
| Date | Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Churchill Downs announcement; Associated Press |
| Scheduled time | Just after 5 p.m. EDT | Churchill Downs announcement |
| Venue | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky | Churchill Downs announcement |
| Broadcast | Planned as part of NBC’s live Derby coverage | Churchill Downs announcement |
| Occurrence | Confirmed; Judd was at the track to sing the anthem | Associated Press race-day report |
How the performance was broadcast
Churchill Downs said the anthem would air live as part of NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage. That was a plan stated in advance. The announcement also said NBC coverage was expected to reach millions of viewers. That is a forecast about the broadcast, not a measured audience figure, and no audience count for Judd’s segment has been published in the sources available for this article.
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Whether the anthem segment is currently available to watch on demand is not established by the announcement or the race-day reporting. Treat the broadcast as confirmed as a plan and the performance itself as confirmed by the Associated Press, and check current replay access directly, as described below.
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Why Churchill Downs chose Judd
Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, gave the organization’s reason in the April 12, 2024 release:
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“Wynonna Judd is a multigenerational talent who has helped shape country music over the years, and a Kentucky native, making her the perfect artist to set the stage for this once-in-a-lifetime Kentucky Derby.”
Judd’s own remarks in the same release emphasized her home-state connection and her long relationship with the race:
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“I am so proud to represent my home state, taking part in one of the most storied and iconic traditions, The Kentucky Derby is something I look forward to every year and being able to perform this year makes the momentous event even more special.”
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Who Wynonna Judd is, as described by Churchill Downs
The announcement and its accompanying artist biography describe Judd’s career in the following terms. These are the organizer’s claims and are presented as such.
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- Grammy recognition: Churchill Downs calls her a five-time Grammy Award winner and says she earned five of those awards as part of The Judds.
- The Judds: She rose to fame as one half of The Judds, the duo she formed with her mother, Naomi.
- Solo work: She released a self-titled solo debut in 1992. The 2024 biography says she had released eight solo studio albums “over the years” as of that release.
- Home state: Churchill Downs describes her as a Kentucky native.
The Derby milestone
The performance marked the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. According to Churchill Downs, the race was first run in 1875. It is a 1¼-mile contest for three-year-old Thoroughbreds and the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.
Earlier anthem performers at the Derby
The announcement lists earlier celebrity anthem performers at the event, including:
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- Carly Pearce, 2023
- Brittney Spencer, 2022
What the record does not establish
- Musical details: The sources do not describe the arrangement, accompaniment, or tempo of Judd’s performance.
- Audience reaction: No account of the crowd’s or viewers’ response is established.
- Exclusive access: The sources do not show an exclusive interview, an exclusive recording, or any special access granted to a single outlet.
- Recording for sale: No authorized audio or video recording of the anthem performance, or a sale listing for one, is established. The 1992 self-titled album is named in the announcement only as part of Judd’s career history; it is not a recording of the anthem.
Finding the performance now
Because the announcement and race-day reporting do not confirm replay availability, use these steps to check current access:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Search NBC’s listings and its streaming service for its Kentucky Derby coverage from May 4, 2024, and look for a replay or highlight of the pre-race segment.
- Check the official Churchill Downs website and its social media channels for posted clips from the 150th Derby.
- Look at Judd’s official channels for any video of the performance she has chosen to post.
If none of these carry the anthem, the performance may not be available on demand, and the Associated Press report and the Churchill Downs announcement remain the verifiable record of what happened.
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