Kentucky · The Bluegrass State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Kentucky state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Kentucky's official state song is “My Old Kentucky Home”, adopted in 1928, with revised lyrics approved in 1986. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Bluegrass Heart”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Kentucky, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Kentucky
Driving bluegrass with fast banjo, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass and tight three-part harmony on the chorus
“Bluegrass Heart” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male vocal · Driving bluegrass with fast banjo.
Verse 1
Thoroughbreds are running in the mist at break of day
White fences round Lexington where the bluegrass sways
Barrels sleeping in a rickhouse turning amber in the dark
Kentucky, you're the fiddle tune that lit the morning spark
Chorus
Bluegrass heart, united we stand
A cardinal in the goldenrod across this rolling land
From the Cumberland Gap to Louisville, Paducah to the hills
Kentucky, you're the song my soul fills
Verse 2
Mammoth Cave goes winding deeper than a secret kept
The first Saturday in May the whole state hasn't slept
Coal towns in the mountains, hot browns in the town
Kentucky, you're the ground that never lets me down
Chorus
Bluegrass heart, united we stand
A cardinal in the goldenrod across this rolling land
From the Cumberland Gap to Louisville, Paducah to the hills
Kentucky, you're the song my soul fills
Bridge
Bill Monroe picked a banjo and the whole world learned to play
Kentucky, you're the bluegrass in my veins today
Chorus
Bluegrass heart, united we stand
A cardinal in the goldenrod across this rolling land
From the Cumberland Gap to Louisville, Paducah to the hills
Kentucky, you're the song my soul fills
About “Bluegrass Heart”
Fast banjo and fiddle for the Bluegrass State, the home of the music named after it. The lyrics cover the Kentucky Derby, the Lexington horse farms, bourbon rickhouses, Mammoth Cave, the Cumberland Gap and Bill Monroe, who gave bluegrass its name.
The chorus opens on the state motto and names the cardinal (state bird) and goldenrod (state flower). "My Old Kentucky Home", played before every Derby, has been the official song since 1928.
Places and symbols in the song
- the Kentucky Derby
- bourbon country
- Mammoth Cave
- horse farms of Lexington
- the Cumberland Gap
- Northern cardinal
- Goldenrod
SongUp AI composed and sang this song from the lyrics above and the style line under the title, the same way it makes songs for its users. It is not the official state song and it is not a cover.
The official state song of Kentucky
- Title
- “My Old Kentucky Home”
- Written by
- Stephen Foster
- Status
- adopted in 1928, with revised lyrics approved in 1986
Written in 1853 and sung before every Kentucky Derby; the legislature changed one word of the lyrics in 1986 to remove a racial term.
Many official state songs are still in copyright, so their lyrics are not printed here. The state's own website or legislature publishes the official text.
Kentucky at a glance
- Nickname
- The Bluegrass State
- Capital
- Frankfort
- Largest city
- Louisville
- Statehood
- June 1, 1792 (15th state)
- Motto
- United we stand, divided we fall
- State bird
- Northern cardinal
- State flower
- Goldenrod
- Official state song
- "My Old Kentucky Home" (in 1928, with revised lyrics approved in 1986)
Questions about Kentucky's state song
What is the official state song of Kentucky?
The official state song of Kentucky is "My Old Kentucky Home", Stephen Foster, adopted in 1928, with revised lyrics approved in 1986. Written in 1853 and sung before every Kentucky Derby; the legislature changed one word of the lyrics in 1986 to remove a racial term.
Is "Bluegrass Heart" the official state song of Kentucky?
No. "Bluegrass Heart" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Kentucky. The official state song is "My Old Kentucky Home", adopted in 1928, with revised lyrics approved in 1986. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Bluegrass Heart" about?
Fast banjo and fiddle for the Bluegrass State, the home of the music named after it. The lyrics cover the Kentucky Derby, the Lexington horse farms, bourbon rickhouses, Mammoth Cave, the Cumberland Gap and Bill Monroe, who gave bluegrass its name. It names the Kentucky Derby, bourbon country, Mammoth Cave, horse farms of Lexington and the Cumberland Gap, with the state bird (northern cardinal) and state flower (goldenrod) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "My Old Kentucky Home" and when was it adopted?
"My Old Kentucky Home" is credited to Stephen Foster; it was adopted in 1928, with revised lyrics approved in 1986. Written in 1853 and sung before every Kentucky Derby; the legislature changed one word of the lyrics in 1986 to remove a racial term.
What are Kentucky's state symbols?
Kentucky is nicknamed The Bluegrass State. Its capital is Frankfort and its largest city is Louisville. It joined the Union on June 1, 1792 (15th state). The state motto is "United we stand, divided we fall", the state bird is the northern cardinal and the state flower is the goldenrod.
Can I play or share "Bluegrass Heart"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Kentucky, your town, your school or your family, with the names and places you choose, describe it on the Create page: a free account hears a 30-second preview of its own lyrics sung, and a full song comes with a Pro plan.
How do I make my own song about Kentucky?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Louisville, KY") or paste your own lyrics, pick a voice, and SongUp AI writes, sings and mixes it in a few minutes. Every song comes with a lyric video, stems and a gift page.