Ashley Judd to Narrate NBC's KENTUCKY DERBY Show Open Tomorrow

Kentucky-native and well-known actress Ashley Judd will be THE VOICE of the show open for the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 2 on NBC.

A University of Kentucky graduate, Judd will narrate the 5 p.m. ET show open for Saturday's NBC telecast, which begins at 4 p.m. ET. The open features images from Churchill Downs including the iconic twin spires, the 14-karat solid gold Kentucky Derby Trophy, as well as original photography from across Kentucky that captures the pageantry, rich history and tradition associated with the "Run for the Roses."

"What a delight! I have attended the Derby many times, from the in-field as a college student, to friends' boxes, and I've even walked on the track behind the Derby field for the call to post, looking in awe up at the Twin Spires," said Ashley Judd, whose family has lived in Eastern Kentucky for more than 10 generations. "My memories are rooted in family ~ my dad picking me up before dawn to visit the barns and watch workouts, and especially how much my Papaws loved the Derby. Wherever I have been in the world on the first Saturday in May, I have watched the Derby. My life offers many bouquets and narrating NBC's opening is an especially sweet one."

"Ashley was the perfect choice to narrate this year's opening sequence," said Rob Hyland, coordinating producer of NBC's horse racing coverage. "The Kentucky Derby is a celebration of pastimes and rituals that make this event so special. Who better than one of Kentucky's own to welcome us to the 141st Kentucky Derby?"