Larry Birkhead marked his daughter Dannielynn's 20th birthday on September 7 with a heartfelt post on Instagram, featuring a collage of rare photos and videos set to Lenny Kravitz's "Happy Birthday." The collection included images from Dannielynn's childhood and more recent photographs, showcasing her evolution over the years.
One of the initial photos in the collage showed Dannielynn seated, wearing dark sunglasses and a black outfit. Subsequent images depicted her with short red hair and earlier childhood snapshots, including one of her in a bathing suit. The video concluded with a photo of a young Dannielynn hugging her father.
Larry Birkhead, who shared Dannielynn with the late model Anna Nicole Smith, has largely raised their daughter away from the public eye since Smith's death in 2007. The couple first met at the Kentucky Derby in 2004, and Dannielynn was born in 2006. Birkhead has consistently prioritized Dannielynn's privacy while maintaining certain traditions.
One such tradition is their annual attendance at the Kentucky Derby, an event Larry and Dannielynn have participated in since she was three years old. Birkhead stated in May 2022 that the Derby serves as a way to honor the past and create new memories. He explained that the event is significant as it was where he met Anna Nicole Smith, and he has taken their daughter back each year to share stories and connect with that part of their history. For Dannielynn, the Kentucky Derby has become a notable public appearance, especially as her father limits her participation in other public events.
Instagram users responded to Birkhead's post with birthday wishes for Dannielynn, with some commenting on how quickly time has passed. The post highlighted the father-daughter bond and the unique way Birkhead has navigated raising Dannielynn while maintaining a connection to her mother's memory.