DeSantis Names John Anderson's 'Seminole Wind' FL's Newest Official Anthem

One of country music's most celebrated tributes to Florida's natural beauty and heritage now has an official place in the Sunshine State's history.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed an executive order designating "Seminole Wind," the 1992 hit by Florida native and Country Music Hall of Famer John Anderson, as Florida's newest official anthem.

Click here to hear the iconic tune.

Anderson died Oct. 21 in Smithville, Tennessee at the age of 71.

The executive order recognizes the song's cultural significance and its influence on environmental conservation efforts across the state.

The designation takes effect immediately, although it is separate from the state's existing anthem established under Florida law.

"Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)" by Jan Hinton was designated as the official state anthem by the Florida Legislature in 2008, while "Old Folks at Home," also known as "Swanee River," remains the official state song.

Born in Orange County on Dec. 13, 1954, Anderson graduated from Apopka High School in 1972 before heading to Nashville and eventually becoming one of country music's most distinctive voices with hits including the million-selling No. 1 single "Swingin'" in 1983.

However, it was his 1992 release of "Seminole Wind" that became arguably his most enduring contribution to his home state.

The song reflects on Florida's changing landscape, environmental destruction and Native American heritage, including references to the Seminole people and the legendary Seminole leader Osceola.

In the executive order, DeSantis credited Anderson with incorporating Florida's history and landscapes into his music, arguing that the song helped inspire efforts to protect the state's natural resources, particularly the Everglades.

Anderson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024 and subsequently into Florida's Artist Hall of Fame.

Beyond recognizing the song, DeSantis directed the Florida secretary of state to update state publications and other materials to reflect the designation, while also establishing historic markers in Anderson's hometown of Apopka.

"I have also directed the [Florida Department of Environmental Protection] to work with the [St. Johns River Water Management District] to designate wildlife drive and trail system within Lake Apopka North Shore as the John Anderson Wildlife Drive and Trail System," DeSantis wrote Tuesday.

DeSantis' order establishes "Seminole Wind" as a separate designation through executive action and encourages the incoming Florida Legislature to formally codify the song's status in state law.