OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Country artist Noah Hunton is putting his roots front and center with his latest single, Florida is Home. The Ocala native says the track reflects both his pride in the Sunshine State and the support that has carried him from small-town stages to major festival appearances.
Hunton, who first broke onto the scene at 15 when he opened for Josh Turner at the Florida Strawberry Festival, said the release brings a mix of excitement and nerves. “It’s always hard getting social media content and press,” he admitted. “But I’m super excited. We’re actually shooting a lot of footage this weekend on tour.”
For new listeners, Hunton describes his style as “modern country with an old school, George Strait kind of writing style.” Storytelling, he said, remains at the core. “It’s fun and upbeat – I have some sad stuff, but mostly upbeat.”
Florida is Home was co-written with Mike and Deanna Geier of Ocala’s Recording Ranch. Hunton said the song began as a half-finished idea the couple shared during a studio session. “They were like, ‘Hey, we got a song we wrote,” Hunton recalled. “I was like, ‘Yo, this is a fire song [sic].”
He added his own touches, weaving in memories of Forest High School and Florida icons like manatees and the Gators. “It was just super cool that they wanted me to be a part of the song and take it over,” Hunton said. “We wanted to really spread out through Florida and talk about everything instead of just horses.”
The track also features guitarist Jordan Snyder, whose solo helped define the final sound. Hunton said Snyder’s contribution gave the song a “lift” that balanced its storytelling with high-energy appeal.
Florida itself, Hunton said, has always shaped his music. “Outdoors, down-to-earth, wholesome people … almost every single person I’ve met has been welcoming,” he said. “It’s just altogether down-home wholesome fun [sic].”
That spirit was recognized earlier this year when Hunton was named Rock the Country’s “Hometown Hero,” a moment he described as humbling. “Just the whole community of people in Ocala have always backed me up with my music,” he said. “To get that recognition … and show people that with determination and perseverance you can achieve anything – it was such a cool experience.”
Hunton is currently on the road with his Small Town Truth Tour, which has taken him as far as Arizona. One highlight came in the form of an unexpected dust storm. “That thing was crazy,” he said. “You see this mile long of just dirt in the air ready to attack you, which was pretty cool [sic].”
Looking ahead, Hunton said a new album is in the works, continuing the mix of heartfelt and high-energy song that defined his 2024 debut, My Life. He also recently headlined and sold out the House of Blues Orlando on Sept. 5 for a fundraiser benefiting families affected by the Texas floods. The event marked another milestone in his career, which has also included opening for national acts and performing at New York Fashion Week.
Florida is Home will be available on Sept. 19 on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and all streaming platforms. For updates, tour dates and more, visit noahhuntonmusic.org or follow Hunton on social media.
For now, he hopes the single resonates with listeners the same way it does for him. “Florida means everything to me,” he said. “I just want people to hear the song and think of all the things that make this state home.”