Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the best-known colonelcy in the United States. A Kentucky Colonel Commission, the certificate, is awarded in the name of the Commonwealth by the governor of Kentucky to individuals with "Honorable" titular style recognition preceding the names of civilians aged 18 or over, for noteworthy accomplishments, contributions to civil society, remarkable deeds, or outstanding service to the community, state, or nation. The governor bestows the honorable title with a colonelcy commission, by issuance of letters patent.

While many famous and noteworthy people have received commissions as Kentucky colonels, the award is equally available to those of all backgrounds based on their deeds. A Kentucky colonel is traditionally considered a goodwill ambassador of the Kentucky state, culture, folklore, traditions, and values.

Although Kentucky colonels are considered in common law to be aides-de-camp to the governors and members of their staff and thus entitled to the style of "Honorable", Kentucky colonels are usually just referred to and addressed as "Colonel" and use the abbreviation "Col." or Kentucky colonel when the term is not being used as a specific title for an individual. Most properly in writing this becomes "Col. First Name, Middle, Surname, Kentucky Colonel".

In 1776, Col. John Bowman was the first Kentucky colonel officially appointed. Col. John Bowman was appointed as colonel of the Militia of Kentucky County by Governor of the Colony of Virginia Patrick Henry. Notable pioneer, Daniel Boone was given the title "colonel" by Col. Judge Richard Henderson in 1775 when he founded the settlement of Boonesborough. Boone was granted a Kentucky colonelcy in 1780 when he was commissioned by the governor of Virginia. At the time Kentucky colonelcy was still military appointment, in contrast to the modern Kentucky colonelcy, which is an honorary title for civilians.

Charles S. Todd is often mistakenly believed to be the first recipient of an honorary commission as a Kentucky colonel in 1813. This is disputed by Col. Todd's biography, and US military archives. The identity of the first civilian honorary colonel is not known. In 1895, Governor William O'Connell Bradley commissioned the first honorary Kentucky colonels as an award of merit bestowed upon citizens for their individual contributions to the state, good deeds, and noteworthy actions.

In 1784, John Filson published his book The discovery, settlement and present state of Kentucke which contained an appendix entitled "The adventures of Col. Daniel Boon, one of the first settlers". Filson's book gained popularity and Boone became a symbol of American pioneering. There became increased interest in the trans-Appalachian West among both Europeans and Americans. Filson's The adventures of Col. Daniel Boon, one of the first settlers was reprinted in France, Germany, England and New York. With the widespread fame of Filson's novel came a greater recognition of Kentucky and its colonelcy.

In 1890, Opie Read published A Kentucky Colonel, which spawned a new public perception of what a Kentucky colonel was, posing himself more as a refined, well-mannered southern gentleman, rather than a figure in the Kentucky militia. In 1905, this view was expanded by Zoe Anderson Norris publishing Twelve Kentucky Colonel Stories: Describing Scenes and Incidents in a Kentucky Colonel's Life in the Southland in The New York Sun.

In 1931, an article about the growing number of Kentucky colonels was published in the Las Vegas Age, headlined "Thousand New Kunnels, Suh, In 25 Years Mighty Near Too Much For Kentucky, Suh". Prior to 1932, only about 1,000 people had received official "Honorable" commissions as Kentucky colonels from Kentucky's governors. Governor Ruby Laffoon, in office from 1931 to 1935, dramatically increased the number of colonels by issuing more than 10,000 commissions in 1933 and 1934. Among his motives was the aim to officially associate a Kentucky colonel with the Commonwealth, to tax the title of colonel, and to boost his political support. One of his most famous colonelships was granted to restaurateur Harland Sanders, who was commissioned by Laffoon in 1935.