Note: Thanks given to the Shreveport – Bossier City Advocate and writer, Robin Miller, for allowing reprint of the article below that was first published on August 21st. 

The day was May 10, 1960, and Jimmie Davis was about to be sworn into office for his second term as Louisiana’s governor.

Though Davis was the quintessential politician, he also was an entertainer, best known for his all-time hit, “You Are My Sunshine.”

It’s correct in labeling the song a hit for all time, because musicologists have ranked it the second-most known song in the world. Not the country, but the entire world.

The first ranked song? Well, that would be “Happy Birthday.”

But May 10 wasn’t Davis’ birthday, it was the day he was about to take the reins of the state, that is, after he took the reins to guide his trusty palomino mare, Sunshine, to the top of the Louisiana State Capitol steps.

As an entertainer, he couldn’t let the occasion pass without fanfare. His white cowboy hat topped the western gear he often wore while performing with his country and western band.

All of which led Julia Davis of Baton Rouge to think about Davis’ inauguration day production. She’d always heard about Davis riding his horse up the steps, but …

“Did he ride his horse down the steps?” she asked. “And why?”

As in, why did he do any of this at all?

Pineville historian Michael Wynne, who became close to the singing governor through hours of visits and interviews, said Davis brought Sunshine to the Capitol that morning as a publicity stunt.

“He not only rode Sunshine up the steps, he rode the horse into the big Memorial Hall and up to the doorway of the governor’s office, which was on the first floor in those days,” said Wynne, who compiled his interviews with Davis in the 2020 book, “A Life Of Sunshine: Remembrances of the Extraordinary Life of Louisiana Governor James H. ‘Jimmie’ Davis.” “And yes, he rode Sunshine back down the steps.”

A horse trailer below awaited Sunshine.

“And Sunshine was probably ready to go in,” Wynne said. “It was a whole dramatic thing with newsreels and everything. I once saw a very poor quality photo of Jimmie Davis and Sunshine outside the governor’s office. It wasn’t a good picture, because the lighting was poor inside the Capitol. I haven’t seen the photo since, and I’m not sure where it is.”

Wynne pointed out that the governor’s office was moved to the fourth floor after Davis finished his second gubernatorial term in 1964.

As for Sunshine, when the horse died years later, Davis buried the beloved animal on his family’s Jackson Parish farm in northeast Louisiana.

As for Davis, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1972 and 1999 and “You Are My Sunshine” was honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. The Recording Industry Association of America also named it one of the Songs of the Century.

Davis’ third try at governor was thwarted by then up-and-comer Edwin Edwards. He made Baton Rouge his permanent home.

Davis died on Nov. 5, 2000. He was 101.

Though the former governor had donated much of his memorabilia to the Louisiana State Archives before his death, one of the saddles on which he rode Sunshine is on permanent exhibit in Louisiana’s Old Governor’s Mansion.

“Southeastern Louisiana University approached him, and he also donated a bunch of stuff to them, including one of his saddles,” Wynne said. “You know, if you’re a horseman, you have more than one saddle.”