The holiday season always brings back nostalgic tunes, but few are as instantly joyful as “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” Even 72 years after its release, this playful song continues to capture hearts across generations. In 2025, it’s more popular than ever — popping up on TikTok, streaming playlists, and family holiday gatherings all over the U.S.
The catchy lyrics, cheerful melody, and childlike humor have turned this 1953 novelty song into a timeless Christmas favorite. It’s a piece of musical history that still feels fun and fresh every December.
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The Beginning of a Holiday Hit
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” was written by John Rox and performed by a 10-year-old girl from Oklahoma named Gayla Peevey. Released by Columbia Records in October 1953, the song quickly became a national sensation.
Peevey’s sweet, enthusiastic voice perfectly matched the humorous lyrics about a child who insists that only a hippopotamus will do for Christmas. The tune climbed the Billboard pop charts and became one of the standout hits of that year’s holiday season.
But what really cemented its place in pop culture was what happened next — when a local radio campaign turned this silly wish into a real-life Christmas story.
When Oklahoma Bought a Hippo for Christmas
After the song’s success, an Oklahoma City radio station started a fundraising campaign called the “Gayla Peevey Hippo Fund.” The idea? To actually get Gayla the hippopotamus she sang about.
The community loved the idea, and donations poured in. Soon, they raised enough money to buy a real baby hippo named Matilda.
When the young singer received the surprise gift, the heartwarming moment made national headlines. Matilda wasn’t delivered to Gayla’s house, of course — instead, she became a beloved resident of the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Matilda lived there for nearly five decades, becoming a local legend. Even today, the zoo honors that fun piece of its history each holiday season with themed decorations and merchandise.
Gayla Peevey: The Girl Behind the Song
Gayla Peevey became a household name almost overnight. Her cheerful voice and natural charm made her a favorite on television and radio. After the success of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” she recorded other songs under her own name and later under the stage name Jamie Horton.
Though none of her later songs reached the same level of fame, Peevey’s Christmas tune remained her signature hit.
As she grew older, Peevey stepped away from the music industry and focused on family and business, running a successful advertising company in California. Still, she has always embraced her connection to the song that made her famous.
In interviews over the years, she’s expressed gratitude for the continued love people show for her recording. Peevey even re-recorded the song in 2017 to celebrate its 65th anniversary — proof that the joy of the original still endures.
A New Generation Discovers the Song
In recent years, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” has seen a major resurgence. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts have brought the song to a new audience.
Thousands of users have used the tune in funny or festive videos — from kids dancing in Christmas pajamas to pets wearing reindeer antlers. The song’s upbeat tempo and lighthearted lyrics make it perfect for holiday trends and family content.
Streaming services have also helped keep it in rotation. On Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, the song consistently reappears on popular Christmas playlists. In 2024, it ranked among the Top 25 most-streamed novelty holiday songs in the United States — a testament to its staying power.
Radio stations across the country also give it steady airplay each December, proving that this decades-old tune still knows how to spread holiday cheer.
Why the Song Still Works in 2025
So why has this simple 1950s song remained popular for so long?
It all comes down to joy. The lyrics capture the wild imagination of childhood — a time when wishing for a hippopotamus feels just as realistic as asking for a toy train or dollhouse.
Unlike many Christmas songs that focus on romance or nostalgia, this one is pure fun. Its lighthearted humor gives listeners a break from the serious side of the holidays.
The playful lines — “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas, only a hippopotamus will do” — are easy to sing along to, and they stick in your head in the best possible way.
In short, it’s a song that makes people smile — and that’s exactly what the holiday season is about.
Cultural Legacy and Modern Covers
Over the decades, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” has become a holiday tradition in its own right. It has been covered by several well-known artists, each adding their own spin while keeping the song’s lighthearted spirit intact.
Notable covers include:
- LeAnn Rimes released a country version in 2014.
- Kacey Musgraves performed it live, adding a playful retro style.
- The Jonas Brothers featured a snippet during one of their holiday performances.
Children’s choirs and school programs also perform it every year, ensuring the song’s youthful energy continues to shine.
For Oklahoma residents, it remains a point of pride. The Oklahoma City Zoo still celebrates its connection to Gayla Peevey and Matilda the hippo, keeping that charming local story alive for future generations.
Interesting Facts About “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”
Here are a few fun bits of trivia that fans of the song might not know:
- The song was recorded in 1953 when Gayla Peevey was just 10 years old.
- The real hippo, Matilda, lived at the Oklahoma City Zoo until 1998.
- The song reentered the Billboard Holiday Chart multiple times between 2016 and 2024 due to streaming popularity.
- Peevey re-recorded the song in 2017, over 60 years after the original release.
- The song has appeared in holiday commercials and family movies over the years, introducing it to new audiences.
A Song That Brings Generations Together
What makes “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” special is how it connects people. Grandparents who remember hearing it on the radio in the 1950s now share it with their grandkids on streaming apps. Parents who grew up hearing it in car rides are now playing it for their own children.
It’s rare for a novelty song to last this long, but this one has something timeless — innocence, humor, and heart. It reminds everyone that the magic of Christmas doesn’t have to be serious. Sometimes, it’s just about letting your imagination run wild.
Even after all these years, Gayla Peevey’s cheerful voice still brings smiles, laughter, and a little bit of whimsy to the holiday season.
More than seven decades later, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” continues to prove that a simple song, sung with joy, can become a lasting part of America’s holiday soundtrack.