Merry Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show! 🎄 We're taking a look back at Gayla Peevey's iconic performance of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"! 🦛 Do you have a favorite festive performance from the show?! Share it with us in the comments! https://EdSullivan.lnk.to/HippopotamusForChristmasFP | The Ed Sullivan Show

**"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"** by **Gayla Peevey** is a whimsical and charming Christmas novelty song released in 1953. The song features Peevey’s playful and enthusiastic vocals as she expresses her unusual Christmas wish—a hippopotamus instead of the typical toys or gifts. Written by John Rox, the song's lighthearted lyrics and upbeat melody quickly captured the hearts of listeners, becoming a festive favorite. Gayla Peevey, just 10 years old at the time, brings an innocent yet humo

Gayla Peevey was 10 years old when she recorded "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". We interviewed her around 2010 for our documentary "OKC A to Z", and she could still belt out the tune. The "hippo" song came out in 1953 and was used as a fundraiser by the OKC Zoo to purchase a hippo | Tulsa Films