Reckoning with “My Old Kentucky Home”: Crystal Wilkinson & Emily Bingham on the Song’s Legacy and Kentucky’s Identity

In this compelling conversation, Former Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson (Perfect Black) and historian Emily Bingham (My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning of an Iconic American Song) unravel the complex legacy of Kentucky’s state song, My Old Kentucky Home. Through riveting readings and insightful dialogue, they explore the song’s cultural impact, its controversial history, and its ongoing influence on the identity of the Bluegrass State. This episode offers fresh perspectives on how music, race, and history intertwine in Kentucky's past and present. Visit us at ⁠⁠https://www.lfpl.org⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/63ElyhSI77iMMQjKBSj0Gk Recorded: 05-10-2022