Christmas Songs #8: Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley (1957)

Number 8: Festive Christmas Songs
Good Housekeeping: Nov. 30, 2019

Blue Christmas 
Elvis Presley (1957)

Elvis Presley's recording of this song is the most well-known version, but the rumor is that he didn't even want to sing it in the first place.


According to a 2012 interview with Millie Kirkham, one of Presley's backing singers, the King originally recorded the song with reluctance. "Let's just get this over with," he told his band and urged them to "do something silly" on the recording.

Elvis Presley

Kirkham responded by singing "woo-we-woo" throughout the song. "When we got through, we all laughed and said, 'Well, that's one record that the record company will never release.'" 

Blue Christmas 
Elvis Presley



Blue Christmas 
Elvis Presley, Martina McBride (2008)

In late 2008, Martina McBride was digitally composited into footage from Elvis performing this song at his 1968 Christmas special to create a duet version.

Elvis Presley, Martina McBride

McBride recorded the song as part of the Christmas Duets album, which featured several female singers, including Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, and Olivia Newton-John, performing Christmas songs along with recordings of Elvis.  

Blue Christmas
Elvis Presley, Martina McBride



Blue Christmas 
Dueling Basses ft. Kate Davis (2016)

Kathryn L. "Kate" Davis is an American singer, songwriter, and bassist. In September 2014, Davis sang a cover version of "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor while playing double bass for Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox video channel;

Kate Davis

Bradlee played piano, and Dave Tedeschi played drums on their 1940s jazz-style interpretation, called "All About That (Upright) Bass." After three months on YouTube, their version had received eight million hits.

YouTube comments:
  • More songs with Kate Davis, please.
  • She must do Patsy Kline. My goodness. 
  • Good to see Kate Davis back. She's wonderful. 
  • The girl's voice is reminiscent of Connie Francis.
  • Too good! It may be my Christmas song this year. Loved it!
Blue Christmas
Dueling Basses ft. Kate Davis

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