NKY native Carly Pearce picked as national anthem singer for 2023 Kentucky Derby

Grammy Award winner and Northern Kentucky native Carly Pearce has been tapped to perform the national anthem at the 149th Kentucky Derby sponsored by Woodford Reserve on May 6.

Churchill Downs Racetrack also announced singer-songwriter Rachel Platten will kick off Derby weekend by performing during The Longines Kentucky Oaks on May 5.

For Pearce, who grew up in Taylor Mill in Northern Kentucky, 2023 is turning out to be quite a year. Not only is she the reigning ACM Awards Female Artist of the Year but she has also added Grammy Award winner to her list of accomplishments.

Earlier this year Pearce and Ashley McBryde became the first female pairing to win a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with their chart-topping hit "Never Wanted To Be That Girl" at the 2023 Grammys.

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The Kentucky native swung through Louisville in March while on tour with country superstar Blake Shelton as part of his "Back to the Honky Tonk Tour. The Courier Journal spoke with Pearce prior to her performance at the KFC YUM Center about earning her fourth career No. 1 song with "What He Didn’t Do," her first live album "29: Written In Stone" and of course, growing up in Kentucky.

"Can you believe I have never been to the Kentucky Derby," she told the Courier Journal. "I would love to be able to go sometime."

And what do you know, two months later, Pearce is not only attending the Kentucky Derby, but she will be front and center performing the national anthem at the longest continuously held sporting event in the United States.

The singer’s live performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" will take place just after 5 p.m. and will be broadcast live as part of NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage, expected to reach more than 16 million fans worldwide.

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"Carly Pearce has been taking the country music world by storm with an impressive year of musical performances,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. "We are excited for her to take center stage in Louisville to sing our national anthem and kick off this storied celebration."

Pearce is the 13th artist to perform the national anthem since Churchill Downs began the tradition in 2009. Notable vocalists who have performed the national anthem at the Kentucky Derby include Brittney Spencer (2022), Tori Kelly (2021), Jennifer Nettles (2019), Pentatonix (2018), Harry Connick, Jr. (2017), Lady A (2016), Josh Groban (2015), Jo Dee Messina (2014), Martina McBride (2013), Mary J. Blige (2012), Jordin Sparks (2011), Rascal Flatts (2010) and Lee Ann Rimes (2009).

In addition, singer and songwriter Rachel Platten will kick off Kentucky Derby weekend by performing twice during The Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May, 5.

The Emmy Award-winning performer will sing the national anthem at 5 p.m. and her chart-topping hit "Fight Song" at 3 p.m. during the Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade. The parade is a moving tradition that celebrates breast and ovarian cancer survivors and encourages those still fighting their cancer battle with a march on Churchill Downs’ historic racetrack prior to the running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks.

"Rachel Platten’s ‘Fight Song’ has become an anthem for those fighting against breast and ovarian cancers," said Casey Ramage, Churchill Downs vice president of Marketing, Brand and Partnerships. "We are honored to have her perform this empowering song and partner with her for our first-ever live performance during the Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade."

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Carly Pearce to sing national anthem for Kentucky Derby 2023