'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' Singer Revealed Why His Recording Wasn't Part of the Animated Christmas Special
- - 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' Singer Revealed Why His Recording Wasn't Part of the Animated Christmas Special
Angela AndaloroDecember 23, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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Kevin Mazur/Getty; Phil Roman Entertainment
Dr. Elmo Shropshire (left), 2000's "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" -
In the early 1980s, Dr. Elmo Shropshire rose to fame for his satirical Christmas song, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
In 2000, the song's action was turned into an animated holiday special, in which Shropshire voiced characters, though his music did not appear and Gary Chase's voice was used instead
Shropshire explains why the music was absent from the special in a 2015 interview with Joe Sibilia
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, the beloved animated 2000 holiday special, had some drama behind the scenes
Joe Sibilia aired an interview with Dr. Elmo Shropshire during his latest episode of Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia. Dr. Elmo, who sang the song, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," appears in the special, but his music doesn't, something Siblia asked about during the chat.
“I got to be in the movie as the narrator and played the part of Grandpa and then I wrote some other songs that were in the movie, so that was a very exciting time,” Shropshire recalled.
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That said, there were "disagreements" between Shropshire and one of the film's producers that changed the film's path a bit.
“At a certain point during the making of the movie, we had a disagreement with the producer over merchandising royalties,” Shropshire said.
“That disagreement led me to not allow him to use my recording in the movie. It was a long-winded, concerted thing that lasted for a few years, but that's why. That’s why you don’t hear me singing it in the movie.”
Shropshire first recorded the song, which was written by Randy Brooks, in 1979, as a duet with then-wife Patsy Trigg. The satirical holiday song became a big hit, propelling them to stardom. The pair would ultimately divorce in 1985.
The songs in the special were instead sung by Gary Chase, who also served as score mixer, arranger, orchestrator and musician on the project.
The singer, 89, also admitted that he had a different vision for what the special, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, should have been like.
“I wrote it, and then they got someone to sort of rewrite it. I would have hoped or had it more like South Park, but still, the way it is, I think might be a little bit more palatable to a wider audience," he shared.
"I sort of had the idea that I'd like to be more like Family Guy or South Park, but I'm happy of the way it came out, at any rate. I thought it might have been funnier, however, being like it is, so it appeals to everyone — especially, it doesn’t offend anyone — that might have been the best way to go for that song."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
