2023 Kentucky Derby: What celebrities will be at the race?

The 149th Run for the Roses, aka the Kentucky Derby, is about to grace our commonwealth once again.

While the focus of the Derby is most often the horse racing portion (obviously), there are many other parts of this annual event that draw plenty of attention.

Hats, drinks, money won, a general sense of chaos, money lost, the red carpet. Every year some select celebrities, whether it be in the world of politics, fashion, food, music or what have you, come to grace the fine folks of Kentucky prior to the big race.

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While we don’t yet know who will be walking down the red carpet this year, reporters Monica Kast and Andrew Henderson covered the red carpet last year, so here’s a couple of our best guesses as to who could show up. We’d also like to hear from you — who would you like to see at the 2023 Kentucky Derby?

This list is by no means comprehensive (last year was evidence in the high number of WWE stars and various food personalities) and is done largely in good fun.

TV & Movie stars

Elizabeth Banks & Cocaine Bear

Monica: You can’t talk about Kentucky and pop culture this year without talking about the cocaine bear. Elizabeth Banks directed the movie, so Derby would be the perfect time to make a trip to Kentucky.

“Pablo Escobear,” AKA the taxidermied bear, lives in Lexington at the Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing if the bear showed up on the red carpet. Last year, inflatable dinosaurs walked the red carpet, so anything is possible.

Andrew: Even if Elizabeth Banks doesn’t decide to come to the Derby, which she should, cocaine bear is the next best thing. No Derby is complete without this overlooked character from Kentucky’s very own “Bluegrass Conspiracy.” Bonus points if a live bear shows up instead.

Nick and Vanessa Lachey

Monica: “Love is Blind’‘ had a major pop culture moment in April. Host Nick Lachey is from Harlan, so now would be a great time for him to return to Kentucky and enjoy some horse racing. While he and Vanessa took some heat in their roles as host, they were still part of the “Love is Blind” phenomenon.

Andrew: I think I saw the first season of “Love is Blind,” but also that could’ve been another show that was very similar to it, so the jury is out. The only thing I do know is Netflix recently botched its live performance of a reunion for season four of the show, and that talk is swirling about Lachey being out as host. Perhaps the best way for him to keep that job is to attend the Derby red carpet and win the race himself.

Ethan Hawke

Andrew: The actor and film maker was notably making his way around Kentucky earlier this year for his upcoming movie, “Wildcat.” While shooting of the movie has reportedly wrapped up in the commonwealth, perhaps he’ll come on by the red carpet for some early promotion of the film.

Chrishell Stause

Monica: By this point, you’re probably thinking, “Wow, this girl really watches a lot of Netflix reality shows.” And you’d be correct. Chrishell Stause is originally from Draffenville, Kentucky, and has a theater degree from Murray State University. You probably know her as the sweetheart of “Selling Sunset,” the sixth season of which premieres on May 19th. Derby could be a nice homecoming and promotional weekend for Stause.

Andrew: I only know who Chrishell Stause is because my former roommate went to Murray State and pointed it out to me when she watched “Selling Sunset.” I’m game for any celebrity who I can somewhat recognize coming.

Chris Pine

Monica: Chris Pine is one of many celebrities expected to be at the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala, which makes him a solid bet to appear on Derby day. I personally think he is the best famous Chris, based entirely on my love of “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” and I would love to get the scoop on the “Princess Diaries 3” rumors.

Andrew: Chris Pine, please come to the Kentucky Derby. You were phenomenal in “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” as the lute-wielding bard Edgin Darvis. Almost everyone in my weekly Dungeons & Dragons group went to see that movie and it was incredibly fun, so I implore you to walk the red carpet if for no other reason so I can talk to you about the movie. Also please ride everyone’s favorite fat red dragon Themberchaud, the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh, in the race. I’ll put all my savings on Themberchaud to win the Derby.

Musicians

Jack Harlow

Monica: Jack Harlow was undoubtedly the star of the red carpet last year when he made an appearance and filmed the music video for “Churchill Downs” with Drake. (Andrew and I unfortunately missed being in the video by about 10 feet.) He’s also a huge fan of Louisville, frequently referencing his hometown in his music, and using a Louisville street as the album cover for his most recent release.

Harlow is starring in the remake of “White Men Can’t Jump,” which comes out on May 19, so Derby would be the perfect opportunity to make an appearance and do some promotion. He’s also expected to make an appearance at the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala, making him a safe bet to appear on Derby day, too.

Andrew: Jackman “Jack” Harlow is likely expected for another Derby appearance. His new album “Jackman” was released April 28 so it would be a well-timed event for the promotion of that as well. Last year, Harlow and Drake teamed up to film a music video at the Derby for a song on his second album “Come Home the Kids Miss You.” Notably that album featured a song aptly titled “Churchill Downs.”

Bonus points if Jack Harlow shows up with cocaine bear.

Tyler Childers

Monica: I’m almost ashamed to admit how long it took me to start listening to Tyler Childers, but he was one of my top-played artists last year. He’s headlining the Railbird Festival at the beginning of June in Lexington, and doesn’t have any tour dates listed for the first weekend of May. Perhaps the Kentucky native is keeping that weekend open to make a trip to the Derby?

Andrew: My girlfriend is a huge Tyler Childers fan (not to imply I’m not myself) and we’ve both been listening to his latest album “Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?” pretty often lately. If he shows up on the red carpet, and he should, I think he needs to come with several hounds all dressed to the nines in Derby attire.

No bonus points if Childers shows up with cocaine bear, but bonus points will be awarded if he comes with some of the beagles rescued last year from a mass breeding facility in Virginia.

Seal

Monica: This guess is based solely on the fact that Seal is playing a show at the Louisville Palace on May 7, so it makes sense that if he comes to Louisville a day early, he could make a Derby appearance.

Andrew: My Kentucky Derby experience will actually be ruined if I don’t see Seal walking the red carpet. If the people at Churchill Downs haven’t already gotten this man a spot on the runway then it may well be the worst Derby in over a century.

Halle Bailey

Monica: The live-action “The Little Mermaid” premieres on May 26, so it’s possible we could see Halle Bailey, who plays Ariel, make an appearance. Bailey is not only an actress, but also a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter for being part of the R&B group Chloe x Halle with her sister.

Andrew: This would normally be where I crack a joke about Seabiscuit as a way to connect the Derby with oceanic creatures, such as the mermaid, but Seabiscuit never raced in the Kentucky Derby so that’s a bust. Should Halle Bailey come to the Derby, bonus points would be awarded if she was in a large fish bowl dressed as a mermaid.

Chefs & food connoisseurs

Sam Fore & Isaiah Screetch

Andrew: Something I learned from the red carpet last year is celebrity appearances run the gamut from the more, perhaps, traditional stars to WWE wrestlers, car company executives and chefs.

Two Central Kentucky chefs, Sam Fore of Lexington and Isahian Screetch of Versailles, are top contenders. Both were named James Beard award semifinalists with Fore advancing as a finalist for the Best Chef: Southeast category. Both of their successes this year should be capped off with a Derby red carpet appearance.

Monica: I grew up watching the Food Network, so I was more excited than Andrew to see the chefs on the red carpet last year. I would love to see some Kentucky chefs make an appearance, and think Sam Fore and Isahian Screetch would be excellent additions.

Edward Lee

Andrew: Another chef with Bluegrass connections who’s been in the spotlight lately is Edward Lee. Lee, the chef/owner of Louisville-based 610 Magnolia, recently cooked for a White House state dinner.

The April 26 dinner saw President Joe Biden welcome South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, according to the Associated Press. While the Kentucky Derby red carpet may be a step down from a state dinner, there’s still some level of pomp and circumstance involved.