The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Singer with Ky. roots to perform national anthem
A Kentucky native with a family history steeped in Bluegrass music will perform the national anthem at the 2024 Thurby on Thursday, May 2 at the historic Churchill Downs Racetrack.
You may have heard Mary Shaftner perform the national anthem before. Over the past 16 years, she’s opened games for the Lexington Legends, Louisville Bats, and the Cincinnati Reds.
“When I got the call from Churchill Downs I wanted to get up and dance and scream,” Shaftner told the Courier Journal. “I asked if they had called the right person.”
But of course, they had. Shaftner is the daughter of the late Betty and Harold Thom. Her parents formed The Cumberlands, a folk/bluegrass band popular in the 70s and 80s. Shaftner treasures memories of touring with her parents and her musical debut at age 12.
“We were at the Gaslight Festival and I sang an Emmy Lou Harris song ‘One Of These Days,’” Shaftner remembers. “I was blown away by that feeling because I just love to sing.”
Today Shaftner lives in Simpsonville and performs most often with her husof band Trent and their rock band FreQuency. But her solo performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” at a Cincinnati Reds game is what caught the attention Churchill Downs.
“I am kind of a rocker so I sing the song the way you want to hear it but I put a Mary Shaftner twist on it,” she said.
Over the past 16 years, Shaftner estimates she’s performed the national anthem publically about 65 times and every time is a thrill.
“I really, really love this song,” Shaftner said. “When I think about what Francis Scott Key was writing about what he saw the American flag was still flying over the Baltimore fort after a night of bombardment by the British — I just sing better.”
The Star Spangled Banner, which became America’s national anthem in 1931, has never been an easy song to sing but with more than 60 performances under her belt, Shaftner plans to enjoy herself in front of the Thurby crowd and hopes it serves as an audition for 2025.
“I am excited to wear a beautiful hat and to sing a song that I love at historic Churchill Downs,” she said. “I am just so excited for all of it. And let it be known next year — I’ll be shooting for the Oaks.”
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.