When Gayla Peevey's catchy Christmas wish for a hippopotamus came true in 1953, she didn't need to test the lyrical theory that a two-car garage would have plenty of room to house her "hippo hero." ...

It all started with a song. In 1953, 10-year-old Gayla Peevey recorded the holiday hit “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” unaware that her music would help bring a real hippo to the Oklahoma City ...

Oklahoma City Zoo will unveil a new statue honoring Gayla Peavey, the local singer behind “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” and Matilda the hippo. This Thursday, the zoo will unveil a statue ...

It is literally Christmas in July as iconic hippopotamus song will now be a part of the Oklahoma City Zoo forever. The iconic Christmas song, “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas”, was recorded in ...

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 awaiting water at Oklahoma City's Lincoln Park Zoo. "I Want a ...

All a cute, curly haired 10-year-old girl named Gayla Peevey wanted for Christmas in 1953 was a hippopotamus. And amazingly enough, after "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" became the biggest hit ...

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — It’s not Christmas ...

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The Metro Richmond Zoo is leaning into the popular holiday tune “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” to announce the birth of a female calf two weeks ago. In the tune, child star and singer Gayla ...