The Ultimate List Of All 50 US State Songs: Recent Adoptions, Controversies, And The States Still Searching For An Anthem

Every state in the United States boasts a unique identity, and one of the most enduring symbols of this regional pride is its official state song. As of December 11, 2025, the landscape of these musical anthems is more dynamic and controversial than ever, with new songs being adopted, old ones being debated, and a few states still holding out for the perfect tune. This comprehensive guide dives into the complete list of all 50 state songs, highlights the most recent updates from 2023 and 2024, and explores the fascinating legislative battles over musical heritage.

The concept of a "song of states of America" is not a single national tune but a collection of 50 distinct regional anthems, each selected by its respective state legislature. These songs range from century-old ballads to modern rock hits, reflecting the diverse cultural and political history of the nation's states and territories. Understanding these songs is key to appreciating the musical tapestry of the United States.

The Complete Musical Profile of the 50 States (Official State Songs)

Forty-eight of the 50 states have officially adopted one or more songs, often categorized as anthems, ballads, marches, or folk songs. This list serves as a "biography" of each state's primary official song, or a notable one where multiple exist, providing a foundational entity list for the topic.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

• Alabama: "Alabama" (Adopted 1931)
• Alaska: "Alaska's Flag" (Adopted 1955)
• Arizona: "Arizona March Song" (Adopted 1919)
• Arkansas: "Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)" (Adopted 1987)
• California: "I Love You, California" (Adopted 1951)
• Colorado: "Where the Columbines Grow" (Adopted 1915)
• Connecticut: "Yankee Doodle" (Adopted 1978)
• Delaware: "Our Delaware" (Adopted 1925)
• Florida: "Old Folks at Home" (Swanee River) (Adopted 1935)
• Georgia: "Georgia on My Mind" (Adopted 1979)
• Hawaii: "Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī" (Adopted 1967)
• Idaho: "Here We Have Idaho" (Adopted 1931)
• Illinois: "Illinois" (Adopted 1925)
• Indiana: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" (Adopted 1913)
• Iowa: "The Song of Iowa" (Adopted 1911)
• Kansas: "Home on the Range" (Adopted 1947)
• Kentucky: "My Old Kentucky Home" (Adopted 1928)
• Louisiana: "You Are My Sunshine" (Adopted 1977)
• Maine: "State of Maine Song" (Adopted 1937)
• Maryland: "Maryland, My Maryland" (Repealed 2021) / Currently without a primary song.
• Massachusetts: "All Hail to Massachusetts" (Adopted 1981)
• Michigan: "My Michigan" (Adopted 1936 - Unofficial) / No official state song.
• Minnesota: "Hail! Minnesota" (Adopted 1945 - Unofficial) / No official state song.
• Mississippi: "Go, Mississippi" (Adopted 1962)
• Missouri: "Missouri Waltz" (Adopted 1949)
• Montana: "Montana" (Adopted 1945)
• Nebraska: "Beautiful Nebraska" (Adopted 1967)
• Nevada: "Home Means Nevada" (Adopted 1933)
• New Hampshire: "Old New Hampshire" (Adopted 1949)
• New Jersey: No Official State Song. (See recent debates below)
• New Mexico: "O Fair New Mexico" (Adopted 1917)
• New York: "I Love New York" (Adopted 1980)
• North Carolina: "The Old North State" (Adopted 1927)
• North Dakota: "North Dakota Hymn" (Adopted 1947)
• Ohio: "Beautiful Ohio" (Adopted 1969)
• Oklahoma: "Oklahoma!" (Adopted 1953)
• Oregon: "Oregon, My Oregon" (Adopted 1927)
• Pennsylvania: "Pennsylvania" (Adopted 1990)
• Rhode Island: "Rhode Island's It for Me" (Adopted 1194)
• South Carolina: "Carolina" (Adopted 1911)
• South Dakota: "Hail, South Dakota!" (Adopted 1943)
• Tennessee: "My Tennessee" (Adopted 1955) (One of many official songs)
• Texas: "Texas, Our Texas" (Adopted 1929)
• Utah: "Utah, We Love Thee" (Adopted 1937)
• Vermont: "These Green Mountains" (Adopted 2000)
• Virginia: "Our Great Virginia" (Official Traditional Song, 2015)
• Washington: "Washington, My Home" (Adopted 1959)
• West Virginia: "The West Virginia Hills" (Adopted 1961) (One of four official songs)
• Wisconsin: "On, Wisconsin!" (Adopted 1959)
• Wyoming: "Wyoming" (Adopted 1955)

The Newest Anthems: 2023 and 2024 State Song Adoptions

To keep the list of state songs fresh and relevant, legislatures across the country periodically introduce, debate, and adopt new musical symbols. The most significant recent activity has occurred in Tennessee, which has embraced a multi-song approach to its musical heritage.

Tennessee’s Modern Musical Heritage: Steve Earle and Beyond

Tennessee, a state deeply rooted in musical history, has recently expanded its already extensive list of official state songs. This move highlights a trend of states adopting multiple songs to represent different facets of their culture, such as historical songs, folk songs, and popular songs.

• "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle: In 2023, the Tennessee legislature officially adopted this iconic country-rock song as an official state song. The song, released in 1988, is a significant entity, representing a modern addition to the state's musical symbols.
• "The Tennessee in Me": Also adopted in 2023, this song by Watts further diversified the state's official collection.
• "Tennessee, In My Dreams": Adopted in 2024, this song by Kaylor is one of the most recent additions to the state's musical portfolio, ensuring the state’s symbols are continually updated.

These recent adoptions demonstrate a willingness by state governments to recognize contemporary music alongside traditional regional anthems, a key shift in how state identity is being defined.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

Virginia's Traditional Song

Virginia, which retired its previous song, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," due to controversial, racially insensitive lyrics, has adopted new musical symbols. In 2015, "Our Great Virginia" by Mike Greenly and Jim Papoulis was designated the official state traditional song, while "Sweet Virginia Breeze" was named the official state popular song. This legislative action shows a deliberate effort to address historical controversies and select songs that better represent modern state values.

The Great State Song Controversies and Legislative Debates

The process of selecting an official state song is rarely simple, often involving heated debates over history, political correctness, and musical taste. This is where the real drama of the "song of states of America" lies, with several high-profile legislative battles currently underway.

The Anthem-Less States: New Jersey and Pennsylvania

While most states have a song, New Jersey has famously struggled to adopt one, despite numerous attempts. The Garden State is often cited as the only state without an official anthem, though this status is constantly challenged by new proposals.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

• Active 2024 Proposals: In 2024, the New Jersey Legislature considered multiple bills, including one to designate "New Jersey's For You and Me" by Kathleen Golden Murphy and Shannon Murphy Flannery as the official state song. Another bill proposed "New Jersey State Song" composed by Dr. Violet Barrett Paterson.

Pennsylvania, while having an official song ("Pennsylvania," adopted 1990), also faces a constant push for replacement. In the 2023-2024 legislative session, proposals like "My Home Pennsylvania" and a song composed by Rep. Russ Diamond were introduced, suggesting the current anthem does not universally resonate with Pennsylvanians.

The Battle of the Legends: Minnesota's Pop Music Proposal

In a move that captured national attention, Minnesota lawmakers introduced a bill to enshrine two legendary Minnesota-born artists' songs as official state symbols: Bob Dylan's "Girl from the North Country" and Prince's "Purple Rain." This proposal highlights the growing trend of states seeking to honor their popular music icons alongside traditional folk or marching songs, further diversifying the collection of regional anthems.

The Repeal of 'Maryland, My Maryland'

Maryland's decision to repeal "Maryland, My Maryland" in 2021 is a critical example of modern legislative action. The song, adopted in 1939, contained lyrics referencing the Civil War and Confederate sentiments, leading to decades of controversy. Its repeal demonstrates a willingness to remove symbols deemed offensive by contemporary standards, leaving the state without a primary official song.

The "song of states of America" is a living, breathing collection of musical symbols that are constantly subject to public opinion and legislative change. From the multi-song approach in Tennessee, embracing artists like Steve Earle, to the ongoing identity crisis in New Jersey and the pop-culture proposals in Minnesota, the history of state songs continues to be written—and sung—in the halls of government every year.