Marianna Baccus performed “Georgia on My Mind” for the University of Georgia’s spring 2026 Commencement, becoming part of a tradition that has lasted six years. The event took place on May 8, with thousands of graduates and their families in attendance.
The performance is significant because each year only one principal and one alternate student are selected from dozens who audition to sing the iconic song at graduation. For Baccus, music has been a lifelong presence. “It’s crazy because I have spent my whole life singing. I don’t remember a time where I haven’t enjoyed music. I feel like it’s my identity, and it means everything to share that with UGA,” she said. “I’d never sung for that many people before, so it was such a special way to close this chapter.”
Baccus is also pursuing a career in music therapy through her studies at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She said her clinical work has shown how songs can help patients facing conditions like autism or dementia improve their mental and physical health. “I’m so glad that the profession that I’m going into uses music as a tool to help people. That’s the coolest thing ever — using what you love to help people get closer to their goals,” she said.
On campus, Baccus built connections through organizations such as Alpha Gamma Delta and the Music Therapy Student Association, which encouraged her to audition for Commencement singer. Her performance was dedicated especially to her cohort at Hodgson School: “You realize how important community is when you have to build it from scratch,” she said. “And I knew that no matter how nervous I was, my friends would be at graduation screaming for me. The support of my peers has made this, and all of my time at UGA, so much easier.”
Reflecting on her experience after months of preparation, Baccus described performing between the hedges as unforgettable: “I want to remember it forever. This is going to be the best story I could ever tell my grandchildren,” she said.
