Marianna Baccus performed “Georgia on My Mind” for the spring 2026 Commencement at the University of Georgia, according to a May 9 announcement. Baccus was selected as the principal singer in a musical tradition that has been part of the university’s graduation ceremony for six years.
The opportunity is significant because each year only one principal and one alternate are chosen from dozens of student auditions. The performance took place before thousands of graduates and their families at Sanford Stadium.
“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,” Baccus said. “I’d never sung for that many people before, so it was such a special way to close this chapter.”
Baccus studies music therapy in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She uses songs, lyrics, and melodies as interventions in healthcare settings to support individuals with conditions such as autism or dementia and to improve mental and physical health through her clinical work. “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 has been involved with Alpha Gamma Delta and the Music Therapy Student Association, which she credits for encouraging her audition and supporting her throughout her studies. “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 leading up to commencement night, Baccus said: “I want to remember it forever. This is going to be the best story I could ever tell my grandchildren.”
