Masters golf ad prompts outrage over Noah Kahan's 'Georgia on My Mind' cover: Here's why

USA Today

26-03-2025

Masters golf ad prompts outrage over Noah Kahan's 'Georgia on My Mind' cover: Here's why
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Video caught the hilarious reaction from a couple who spotted an alligator wandering around a golf course.
A new ESPN promotional video for the 2025 Masters meant to boost excitement for the golf tournament has instead created outrage over its music choice.
While the Ray Charles classic tune "Georgia on My Mind" has been used for the annual ad campaign for six years straight, ESPN has now opted to use a cover of the song by New England singer Noah Kahan.
"From today until the day we pull into the gates of Augusta National. Promise Georgia will be on my mind," Kahan, 28, told ESPN in a behind-the-scenes video on the cover creation.
However, the response has been anything but positive with many people, including some Kahan fans, frustrated by ESPN's decision not to use Charles' 1960 version.
"I am speaking as someone who really enjoys Noah Kahan's music when I say this. This edit blows. Please delete it from existence," one X user wrote.
People frustrated by Kahan's lack of southern roots
ESPN Vice President of Live Sports and Audience Expansion Rachel Epstein said decision to use a Kahan cover this year stemmed from a plan to attract younger viewers to the golf tournament, according to Marketing Brew.
"We're always going to be fairly traditional and reverent in terms of how we visually showcase the tournament," Epstein told the outlet. "But just knowing that the Masters—certainly Augusta National and ESPN—are constantly looking to engage and reach younger audiences, music just felt like this important and powerful device that we could use…to engage and be relevant with younger audiences."
Yet the feedback on social media has primarily been negative, with many upset the network switched to a singer with no roots in Georgia or the South.
The two-time Grammy nominee was born in the small town of Strafford, Vermont which served as inspiration for his 2022 song "Northern Attitude." Meanwhile the late Charles, who died in 2004, was born in Albany, Georgia.
People react online to the new 'Georgia On My Mind' cover
Kahan's cover of "Georgia On My Mind" has received heavy backlash online, with one X post reading "Love Noah, but this ain't it at all."
"No one captures one of the most sacred traditions in Georgia history like *checks notes* New England native Noah Kahan." a different X user wrote.
"No offense to Noah's version, but please pull the plug on this," another user wrote.
"Love some Noah Kahan but what an absolute butcher job on an all time song and artist. Should've been the original," one post reads.
"Not to be dramatic but this offends me in ways I can't even put into words," another wrote.
When is the 2025 Masters tournament?
The Masters tournament is set to commence its first round on Thursday, April 10. The second round is scheduled for Friday, April 11, which will determine the cut. The final two rounds are slated for Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13.
Contributing: Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAY