Georgia’s official state song reaches a major milestone on January 1, 2026, when the original 1930 music and lyrics of “Georgia on My Mind” enter the public domain. That means the underlying composition—its sheet music and words—can be legally reused, reprinted, performed, and adapted without needing permission.

The timing is tied to the way U.S. copyright works for many older publications. Works first published in 1930 reach the end of their standard copyright term at the start of 2026, making Public Domain Day a yearly turning point for older books, films, and songs.

“Georgia on My Mind” was written in 1930 with music composed by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Stuart Gorrell. Over the decades it became one of the best-known songs in American music, recorded by countless artists and closely associated with Georgia thanks to the version that later made it famous worldwide.

It’s important to note what’s changing—and what isn’t. While the composition is entering the public domain, specific recordings are treated differently under copyright law. So if anyone is thinking about borrowing Ray Charles’ classic rendition, that recording remains protected. In other words, you can perform the song, arrange it, or print the lyrics—but you can’t simply use Ray Charles’ recording without rights.

Georgia didn’t make the song official until nearly 50 years after it was written. In 1979, the Georgia General Assembly adopted “Georgia on My Mind” as the state’s official song, a move widely seen as both a cultural nod and a tribute to Ray Charles, the Georgia native whose performance helped cement the song’s identity in the public mind. Accounts from the time note that Charles performed the song for state leaders during the 1979 recognition—an emotional moment that helped seal its place in Georgia history.

As 2026 begins, “Georgia on My Mind” will continue to be a signature piece of the state’s musical identity—only now, the original words and melody will be open for new generations to interpret, record, and reimagine.