Dannielynn Birkhead Stuns at Kentucky Derby While Sharing Rare Comment on Mom Anna Nicole Smith
Dannielynn Birkhead, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith, stunned at the 2026 Kentucky Derby with her dad, Larry Birkhead, while also sharing rare remarks about her mom.
On Saturday, May 2, Dannielynn, 19, and Larry, 53, stepped out for their yearly joint appearance at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Ky.
While posing for photos on the red carpet, Dannielynn rocked a black dress with oversized white roses spanning the length of the gown. She donned a black-and-white headpiece featuring another white rose, while showing off the bold hair transformation she revealed the night before at the Barnstable Brown Gala. Meanwhile, Larry opted for a white jacket and pants with a black undershirt.
The doting dad took to Instagram with a carousel of photos from the annual father-daughter outing. He wrote, "And We're Off… to The 152nd @kentuckyderby with Dannielynn after an awesome Barnstable-Brown party last night!"
In the comments, Larry's Instagram followers fawned over Dannielynn's edgy look, with one writing, "She looks stunning! And not to shabby yourself, Dad."
Another shared, "Awwwww. So cute. I love that you have this tradition."
Someone else echoed, "Wow, what a beautiful dress! You both look great! 🔥."
Meanwhile, yet another Instagram user exclaimed, "I love Danielynn's hair, and her dress is stunning!! You both look amazing!"
During an interview with Access Hollywood on the Kentucky Derby red carpet, Dannielynn was asked how she thought her mom would react to her new hair, after going from a long blond look to a pixie cut with black tips.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I think she might like it, maybe. I can't really say, for sure, but she was cool. And I'm cool, so..." to which Larry interjected, "She'd definitely love it."
When asked if she was still channeling a vampire vibe (as she described Friday night's look), Dannielynn replied, "Yes, but not so visibly this time. I'm still a vampire, but don't look like it too much right now."
"I think she's more refined than [a] vampire, but it's the best of the dark side," Larry added.
In 2007, Smith died from an accidental overdose when Dannielynn was 5 months old. Attending the Barnstable Brown Gala and the Kentucky Derby has been a father-daughter tradition for Larry and Dannielynn for many years, as Larry and Smith first met at the 2003 gala when he worked as a photographer.
Next: Dannielynn Birkhead Is a Spitting Image of Mom Anna Nicole Smith at Annual Red Carpet Event
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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 4:06 PM.