Gayla Peevey was just 10 years old when her unforgettable holiday anthem, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” became a national sensation in 1953. The song made Peevey a part of Oklahoma history.

Over the past few decades, Gayla Peevey has become accustomed to blowing children's minds. On one hand, she's the little girl crooning the hallowed holiday song "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas." ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. She was a children's Christmas song come to life. On Dec. 24, 1953, a 700-pound "baby" lumbered from her moving crate into the ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” singer Gayla Peevey poses with a plush hippo. Over the past few decades, Gayla Peevey has ...