The 140th Kentucky Derby is going country. They've enlisted Jo Dee Messina to sing the National Anthem at this year's horse race.

This will be Messina's second time attending the race at Churchill Downs, but last year she was just a spectator. This will be her first time having the honor of singing to start the Derby. Messina will sing at the presentation stand in the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle, around 5PM ET on May 3.

Last year, Martina McBride opened the Kentucky Derby by singing the anthem. Messina is now only the sixth artist that has had the opportunity to do this and she's in good company with McBride, Rascal Flatts and LeAnn Rimes.

Messina is about to embark on a tour to promote her newest album, 'Me,' which was released on March 18 and was funded by a Kickstarter campaign. She said recording this particular album was "the toughest thing ever" in an interview with ToC.

If you can't make the 140th Kentucky Derby, you can check out Messina on her tour which starts May 23 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Full tour dates are here.

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