By: Kirby Adams
Louisville Courier Journal
April 20, 2026
Grammy Award-winning musicians, professional sports icons, Kentucky Derby jockeys, and a constellation of stars from television, film, business, and the arts are set to walk the red carpet at the 2026 Unbridled Eve Derby Gala.
Now in its 13th year, the Derby Eve celebration continues to draw an eclectic mix of guests from Louisville and across the country, all gathering to toast the Kentucky Derby on the eve of the world’s most storied horse race.
Sisters Tonya York and Tammy York-Day, co-founders of the Unbridled Charitable Foundation, Inc., have shaped the gala into one of Kentucky Derby Week’s most glamorous traditions. This year, the party is turning up the star power once again with Grammy Award winners Skip Martin, Richie Sambora and John Elefante, plus “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips, among a hefty list of other artists set to perform. They’ll be joined by celebrity party guests including actors Gina Torres, John Schneider, Melissa Joan Hart, Danica McKellar and Anthony Ramos, and Dateline NBC correspondent Andrea Canning. Plus, Griffin Johnson, a social media influencer and owner of Derby contender Silent Tactic, Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan, and a roster of professional athletes and jockeys, including Zach Randolph, Warren Moon, Luke Hancock, Mario Urrutia and Triple Crown champion Jean Cruguet, are all expected to appear.
“We’re always amazed by the mix of people who want to be part of this night,” York told The Courier Journal. “Over the years, incredible friendships and partnerships have started here on Derby Eve. Warren Moon and Bob Guiney met at this party and have been friends for more than 20 years. A movie, currently in production, is the result of a film producer and a musician who crossed paths here at the party. You truly never know who you’ll meet — and that’s part of the magic.”
York-Day agrees that the event’s guest list and energy evolve each year. “Every gala has its own personality,” she said. “We’re constantly refreshing, reimagining, and elevating the experience. I think that’s why people come back — they reconnect with friends they met here and become part of the tradition.”
Other notable names headed to the Unbridled gala include best selling author Nora Roberts, University of Louisville head football coach Jeff Brohm, guitarist Orianthi, lead singer of the band Looking Glass, Elliot Lurie, country singer Lorrie Morgan and Johnny Edwards, former lead singer of Kansas.
In addition to its star‑studded red carpet and first‑class entertainment, the Unbridled Eve Derby Gala, held in the grand ballroom of Louisville’s iconic Galt House Hotel, has earned a reputation for fully immersing guests in lavish décor, inventive specialty bars, and the event annually holds a spectacular silent auction. The auction’s lineup of luxury getaways, celebrity‑hosted dinners, and exclusive sports and Kentucky‑themed experiences fuels the Unbridled Eve Foundation’s philanthropic mission, with Blessings in a Backpack serving as its primary beneficiary.
The night’s entertainment culminates with the All‑Star Jam, a genre‑blending finale featuring performers like “American Idol” alum Layla Spring, Kentucky country artist J.D. Shelburne, “America’s Got Talent” contestant China Lacy, and country music duo Alyssa & Wayne Brewer, who will share the stage with actors like John Schneider and Guiney, a longtime gala favorite.
To top it all off, the party features 17 specialty bars in 2026 including Aperol, Castle & Key, Chicken Cock Whiskey, Decoy Red Blend and Brut, Divergent Spirits, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Ignition Bourbon, Lily May Bourbon, M & O Spirits, Skyy Vodka, Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Tito’s Vodka, Whiskey Thief, William Grant & Son’s and a mocktail and Ale-8 bars.
If all this sounds like the perfect way to celebrate the 152nd Kentucky Derby, individual and table tickets are available at unbridledeve.com.
Read the article HERE: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/events/kentucky-derby/celebrities/2026/04/20/unbridled-eve-derby-gala-2026-kentucky-derby-celebrity-guest-list/89019442007/