On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order, declaring a 1992 song as the state’s new official anthem.
DeSantis unveiled the new order via X, revealing the new anthem to be “Seminole Wind” by Apopka native John Anderson.
“I have also directed the (Florida Secretary of State) to erect historic markers in the City of Apopka depicting John Anderson’s contribution to Florida’s heritage,” DeSantis said.
Today I issued an Executive Order designating “Seminole Wind” by John Anderson as the official anthem of Florida.
I have also directed the @FLSecofState to erect historic markers in the City of Apopka depicting John Anderson’s contribution to Florida’s heritage.
In addition, I have tasked @FLDEPNews to work with the @SJRWMD to designate wildlife drive and trail system within Lake Apopka North Shore as the John Anderson Wildlife Drive and Trail System.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 27, 2026
Per the order, Anderson grew up in Florida and graduated from Apopka High School in 1972, before moving to Nashville to create hit country songs like “Swingin,” “Wild and Blue,” and “Black Sheep.”
Anderson passed away last week, just days after he attended the latest Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee.
Aside from the new anthem, DeSantis announced the wildlife drive and trail system at Lake Apopka North Shore will be renamed the “John Anderson Wildlife Drive and Trail System.”
In addition to Anderson’s song, Florida actually has another state anthem that was approved by lawmakers in 2008: “Florida, Where Sawgrass Meets the Sky” by Jan Hinton, a music teacher from Pompano Beach.
You can read the full executive order below: