Dannielynn Birkhead made a bold confession while wearing her mom Anna Nicole Smith's jewelry on the red carpet ahead of the 2025 Kentucky Derby. On Saturday, May 3, 2025, Dannielynn, 18, stepped out with her father, Larry Birkhead, 52, at the annual horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. For the occasion, the teen donned a mint green off-the-shoulder tulle gown by Mac Duggal, complemented by a headpiece featuring a yellow flower. She also adorned herself with a gold statement necklace and bracelets from her mother's archive.
Larry, meanwhile, sported a tan suit with a matching yellow flower on the collar of his jacket and a coordinating tie. While chatting with People on the Kentucky Derby red carpet, Dannielynn spoke about fame and being approached by the brand to wear the dress. "It scares me because I didn't think I was that important," the 18-year-old confessed. "Like maybe for my favorite celebrities, yeah. But it's heartwarming that they think of me because once again, I didn't know that I was this important."
Dannielynn was just five months old when Smith died from an accidental drug overdose in 2007. Since then, Larry has raised her mostly out of the spotlight—except for when they dress to the nines each year for the Kentucky Derby. On Friday, May 2, 2025, Dannielynn rocked her mother's iconic black backless gown at the Barnstable Brown Gala, and fans couldn't get over how much she resembled Smith. "This is the closest to a hug I can get from her," she told Access Hollywood on the red carpet ahead of the gala.
At the Barnstable Brown Gala, Dannielynn channeled her late mom Anna Nicole Smith with a vintage look. The 18-year-old attended the event wearing the same backless black gown her late mother wore to the gala 21 years prior. Dannielynn also sported a loose updo reminiscent of her mother’s hairstyle. The teen was accompanied by her dad Larry Birkhead, Anna Nicole's ex, continuing an annual tradition the two began 15 years ago. "Kicking off @kentuckyderby weekend with Dannielynn," the 52-year-old wrote on his Instagram on May 2. "First up, the Barnstable-Brown Gala. Dannielynn is wearing Anna Nicole’s dress that she wore 21 years ago to this same event. Life full circle. She said she chose the dress because it was her mom’s and 'super cool.'"
The father-daughter duo was also accompanied by Larry's niece, Chloe. He added in his post, "I am going to try not to embarrass them with my dance moves." “We talk about her a lot at home, and share stories and funny things,” Dannielynn told E! News on the derby red carpet in 2024. “And we have some things around the house that belong to her, like a painting with some very choice words on the back.”
While the father-daughter duo has been attending the special event together for 15 years, their joint attendance was actually a last-minute choice back in 2010. “I think the one year the babysitter canceled,” Larry explained. “And then it became I brought her when she was able to kind of walk and do her own thing down the carpet, and then it became a tradition.” And it’s just one of many the tight-knit pair share. In September 2024, Larry wished his daughter a happy 18th birthday with a sweet message on Instagram. "You are my entire heart,” he captioned the post after their Beetlejuice-themed celebration. “I love you more than I can ever express. May you continue on your journey being ‘humble and kind’ and spread the love that you were given to many others. I am beyond proud of you.”
On the day of the Derby, Dannielynn wore her mom's jewelry, including a chunky gold necklace with a large charm and gold bangles. She expressed that it was her first time wearing the jewelry and admitted to being "fed up" with the fashion process, ultimately deciding her outfit with an "eeny, meeny, miny, moe" approach. The teen's pale blue tulle dress featured a bardot neckline and ruffled tiers, while she added a blue and yellow fascinator to match her mom's jewelry and the dress.
“We are recovering from a rockin’ good time at last night’s Barnstable-Brown Gala. Now, off to the races with Dannielynn!” Larry shared on Instagram, revealing that his daughter made him cut his hair because she thought he looked like a "low-rent Keith Urban." This light-hearted moment captures the fun and family spirit of the Derby weekend.
Reflecting on the significance of the Derby, Larry has often shared why this event means so much to him and Dannielynn. In a 2022 interview with the Courier Journal, he stated, “It’s our ‘one day a year’ outing that we do publicly. And I think you guys probably can take pictures and watch her grow from just this event ... there’s a lot of people that are interested in things because of her mother, and I don’t let her fall into that. I just say, ‘Hey, let’s do one thing a year (and) let people see how you are.’”
As the years go by, the bond between Larry and Dannielynn continues to strengthen, with the Kentucky Derby serving as a cherished family tradition. The event not only allows them to celebrate Anna Nicole's legacy but also provides a platform for Dannielynn to step into the spotlight, embracing her identity and connection to her mother.
In February 2025, Larry shared a carousel of photos of Anna Nicole to honor 18 years since her passing. Alongside a close-up portrait of Anna Nicole, he wrote: "18 years ago today the world became a little less interesting without you," adding, "Remembering Anna Nicole." This poignant tribute speaks volumes about the lasting impact Anna Nicole had on their lives and the love that continues to flourish in her absence.
As Dannielynn embarks on her journey into adulthood, she carries her mother's spirit with her, evident in her fashion choices and the way she honors Anna Nicole's memory. The Kentucky Derby will always be a special time for the Birkhead family, a moment to reflect, celebrate, and create new memories together.
