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 ...

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." ...

The OKC Zoo has announced the cancellation of a sing-along/meet and greet event with Gayla Peevey that was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.Gayla Peevey is ...

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." ...

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 ...

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- This time of year, radio stations get nostalgic with songs about sleigh rides and silver bells, but there's another Christmas classic that has endured the test of time for more ...

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 ...

The Oklahoma City Zoo canceled its Christmas sing-along with “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” singer Gayla Peevey ...

In 1953, a 10-year-old star named Gayla Peevey gave the world something to yearn for when she recorded the classic song, "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." Nearly 70 years later, a zoo in Virginia ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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” ...

OKLAHOMA CITY — Most children ask for a puppy for Christmas, but Gayla Peevey wanted something larger — a certain temperamental beast that lives in Africa’s Nile River and wouldn’t even fit in her ...