‘My Old Kentucky Home’ will play before Kentucky Derby despite backlash

Published May 1, 2021 3:00pm ET



The Kentucky Derby tradition of playing “My Old Kentucky Home” will continue despite activists claiming the tune uses controversial language about the black community.

The tune, written by 19th-century songwriter Stephen Foster, is typically performed by the University of Louisville marching band and is accompanied by audience members singing along the words before races commence.

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