Grace Potter’s Fans Praise Her Rendition of the National Anthem at the 2025 Kentucky Derby: ‘Powerhouse of a Vocalist’ (2025)

People can’t stop talking about Grace Potter!

On Saturday, May 3, the singer, 41, wowed the crowd at the 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., when she performed an a cappella rendition of the United States national anthem.

Potter wore a shimmery gold dress with three-quarter length sleeves and a V-neckline for the showstopping musical number. She paired the elegant dress with a thick gold belt and chunky gold jewelry.

As the annual sporting event is known for its extravagant hats, she also wore a large white hat with gold, white and black feathers.

During her powerful performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner," she held the final notes for an extended period of time, earning heavy applause from the crowd.

"Grace Potter just nailed the Star-Spangled Banner at the Kentucky Derby," wrote one fan on X. "Sang the actual notes, stunningly, with heart until the very end when she acquiesced a bit to fashion.Great composers' notes on the page matter. So hard to just do them. Oh my goodness. She was amazing."

Another said, "Grace Potter should sing the national anthem all the time."

A third wrote, "Grace Potter is such a powerhouse of a vocalist! A+ choice by the Kentucky Derby team for selecting her to sing the National Anthem."

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Ahead of her performance, Potter had teased that it was going to be "special" as she shared how she was feeling.

"I'm feeling so good. This is such a special thing," she told NBC Sports. "And honestly, weather is really good for me. I believe that Mother Nature speaks to me through music. So the inclement weather is just a sign that it's going to be an extra special one."

She also told the news outlet that she has never been to the Derby before, adding, "I'm a hippie girl from Vermont, so this is a very different world for me, but I've gone to parties, like Derby themed parties, and I've drank the mint tulips. I've hung out with a lot of folks from Kentucky, who are like, 'You just don't know what it is until you get there and see it for yourself.' And now I totally get it."

In a Southern Living interview published on April 29, the "Good Time" singer admitted that singing the national anthem can be a challenge. "It's one of the most challenging vocal songs to sing," she said. "That's why so many people botch it pretty darn good. And when I hear it in its finest form, it's usually instrumental, you know, it's no one singing it because it is a gorgeous piece of music, but the vocalization of it is challenging."

She continued, "It's a little bit like playing the bagpipes, which I did do as a young person. There's just these points in the dynamics where your voice is being asked to do something that would be better performed by an instrument. But I love a good challenge."

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Potter shared her excitement to perform at the star-studded event in a post on X on April 16, writing, "Harvest your finest mint, mix up your Juleps, strap on your funkiest fascinators & tune in to @nbc to join me as the Mother Road collides head-on with the iconic Kentucky Derby! I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be helping to commence the ceremonies at the Derby by singing the National Anthem May 3rd! @KentuckyDerby."

The singer is currently on tour through September, stopping in Lewiston, N.Y. with JohnnySwim. She will then play a few shows in Belmont Park, N.Y. and New York City in support of Chris Stapleton.

Other celebrities spotted at this year’s Kentucky Derby include Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens, Dannielynn Birkhead and Larry Birkhead, Alix Earle, Shaboozey and more.