[10] In 1997, state Representative Willie Logan introduced a bill to change the song, citing the offensive nature of the lyrics;[10] the bill was strongly opposed by lawmakers who represented the Suwannee River region, and ultimately was withdrawn by Logan.
[11] In 2007, Charlie Crist refused to allow "Old Folks at Home" to be played at his gubernatorial inauguration, opting for a less controversial and more contemporary piece.
[12] He encouraged state Senator Tony Hill, who was the leader of the legislature's Black Caucus, to find a new song.
[15] After narrowing the field down to three finalists, the nominees were voted upon by the general public at a site set up specifically for the contest.
"Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)", composed by Briton Jan Hinton, received more than half of all of the votes cast.
[17] The new lyrics of "Old Folks at Home" were approved by scholars at the Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh.