Grace Potter Delivers A Cappella National Anthem Performance At 2025 Kentucky Derby
on May 03, 2025
Meet Grace Potter, The Singer Who Performed The National Anthem At The 151st Kentucky Derby
Grammy-nominated singer Grace Potter had the honor of performing the National Anthem at the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025.
Churchill Downs, the racetrack where the Kentucky Derby takes place, announced on April 16 that Potter would sing the Anthem.
Mike Anderson, the President of Churchill Downs, said:
“Grace Potter’s soulful vocals have transcended genres for more than two decades, making her a fantastic choice to lead our fans in the stands and around the country in the national anthem at this year’s Kentucky Derby. Her powerful stage presence and electrifying performances embody the spirit and spectacle of Derby Day, and we’re thrilled for Grace to bring her powerhouse voice to Churchill Downs.”
Grace Potter is known primarily as a rock and pop artist. Some of her most popular solo songs include “Love Is Love,” “Good Time,” and “Empty Heart.”
Potter also performed in a rock band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, from 2002 to 2015. Together, they scored hits such as “Never Go Back,” “Stars, and “Ah, Mary.”
In addition, Potter has collaborated with country music superstar Kenny Chesney twice. She joined him to record “You and Tequila,” which reached the #3 spot on both of Billboard‘s country charts in 2011.
Four years later, she and Chesney reunited to record “Wild Child,” which hit #1 on the U.S. Country Airplay chart.
Potter has been nominated for multiple Grammys, including Best Rock Album, Best Rock Performance, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (for “You and Tequila”).
Potter is poised to release her next album, Medicine, on May 30. She’s also joining Chris Stapleton on tour in July, and has toured with him in the past.
Viewers React To Grace Potter’s National Anthem Performance
Grace Potter ventured to her tourmate Chris Stapleton’s native Kentucky to perform the National Anthem for the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3. She followed in the footsteps of previous Anthem singers such as Wynonna Judd, Carly Pearce, Jennifer Nettles, Lady A, LeAnn Rimes, and Rascal Flatts.
Potter took to the stage shortly after 5 PM Eastern time. She donned a golden-colored gown, accenting her look with a matching hat.
Potter sang a cappella, taking a delicate approach to the first few lines. She maintained a smooth, deliberate pace as her performance grew in power and strength. The crowd appeared impressed and cheered for her multiple times mid-song.
She ended her performance by holding out the final “brave” and taking it several notches higher, before receiving a warm round of applause from those in attendance.
Reactions to Potter’s performance were mixed. Many viewers watching from home complimented her performance, making comments on X (formerly Twitter), such as:
Grace Potter shines with the National Anthem at the Kentucky Derby.
— SaintLou (@SaintLou22) May 3, 2025
WOW
Grace Potter absolutely killing it on the National Anthem for the Kentucky Derby as Grace potter always does! #DerbyDay #KentuckyDerby151 🐎🐎
— Harriett Bryant 🌻 (@badhatharri) May 3, 2025
Grace Potter is such a powerhouse of a vocalist!
— Jessi Troyan (@jltroyan_wv) May 3, 2025
A+ choice by the Kentucky Derby team for selecting her to sing the National Anthem
Grace Potter slayed singing the National Anthem just now at the Kentucky Derby.
— AshmonkeyRoyale 🇺🇸✞ (@AshmonkeyR94040) May 3, 2025
Very nice job. Never heard her before. I was impressed.
grace potter, oo la la, what a great performance at the Derby!🇺🇸🐎
— NCgolf (@CgolfN) May 3, 2025
GRACE POTTER JUST SANG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ACAPELLA NATIONAL ANTHEM I’ve heard in a Long Time!! Class Act🌹
— GRIZZLY D (@REECEMAN_420) May 3, 2025
However, Potter didn’t please everyone with her performance. Some of the critiques on X included:
Talk about someone screwing up the national anthem….well GRACE POTTER did a good job at the Kentucky Derby…
— Denny (@xrtbus) May 3, 2025
Dammit Grace Potter, that was a beautiful version of our National Anthem, until the end. You did too much on the word brave. Sounded like a horse in the lead that breaks its leg on the last turn down the stretch. 🤦🏻♂️#KentuckyDerby #KentuckyDerby151
— Vets4Mets 🪖🇺🇲⚾ (@Vets4Mets) May 3, 2025
I hope music teachers all over the world get a recording of this Grace Potter National Anthem so they can show their students how not to sing the anthem.
— Robert from Wisconsin (@Rob_In_WI) May 3, 2025
Oh no Grace potter you didn’t have to end it like that
— amor for sleep (@fishtailpalms) May 3, 2025
Grace Potter has a great voice singing the Anthem. All the pauses and slow tempo is just intended to draw attention to herself. The song is about America. Not the singer.
— CaptainTouchback (@CaptTouchback) May 3, 2025
Oh gad no. It's the anthem, not your personal pop song. It drives me nuts when people don't just sing it straight through and instead throw in all the drawn-out notes and yodelling.
— Jil McIntosh (@JilMcIntosh) May 3, 2025
Others commenting on the Facebook video the Kentucky Derby shared of Potter singing felt her performance was too “slow.”
What did you think of Grace Potter’s rendition of the National Anthem at the 2025 Kentucky Derby? Watch her performance below.
