NBC Insider Exclusive

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more!

Sign Up For Free to View
NBC Insider Holiday

Michael Bublé Almost Didn't Record One of His Most Popular Christmas Songs

The Voice Coach's cover of "Holly Jolly Christmas" was apparently a last-minute decision.

By Kaitlin Kimont
Michael Bublé Reveals the Muse Behind His Love Song "Haven't Met You Yet" | The Voice | NBC
Video thumbnail
Now Playing
4:03
Web Exclusive
Michael Bublé Reveals the Muse Behind His Love Song "Haven't Met You Yet" | The Voice | NBC
Video thumbnail
6:48
Sneak Peek
Divighn and Kaiya Hamilton Steal the Show with Phenomenal Knockout Performances | The Voice | NBC
Video thumbnail
2:03
Highlight
Angie Rey's Gorgeous Voice on "Dirt Cheap" Earns Coach Bublé's STEAL | The Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
2:00
Highlight
Lucia Flores-Wiseman's Unique Voice Reinvents Benson Boone's "Slow It Down" | Voice Knockouts
Video thumbnail
2:01
Highlight
Grace-Miller Moody Belts Out Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" with Her Whole Heart | Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
2:09
Highlight
Simone Marijic's Vulnerable Performance of Sara Bareilles' "She Used to Be Mine" | Voice Knockouts
Video thumbnail
2:06
Highlight
Dan Kiernan Bares His Emotions on Shontelle's "Impossible" | The Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
1:56
Highlight
Barry Jean Fontenot Impresses Coach Bublé with "Haven't Met You Yet" | The Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
1:56
Highlight
Ethan Eckenroad Shocks Coach Adam with Unexpected Version of "I Won't Back Down" | Voice Knockouts
Video thumbnail
2:06
Highlight
Tinika Wyatt Lights Up the Stage with The Emotions' "Best of My Love" | The Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
1:59
Highlight
Iris Herrera Delivers a Flawless Performance of Ray LaMontagne's "Jolene" | Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
1:57
Highlight
17-Year-Old Trevon Dawson Nails Brooks & Dunn's "Red Dirt Road" | The Voice Knockouts | NBC
Video thumbnail
3:51
Web Exclusive
Adam, Bublé, Kelsea and John Get Their Teams Ready for Incredible Knockouts | The Voice | NBC
Video thumbnail
3:23
Web Exclusive
Bublé and Kelsea Send Reba a Special Message and More Hilarious Outtakes | The Voice | NBC
Video thumbnail
6:32
Sneak Peek
BD.ii and Kolby Cordell's Show-Stopping Knockouts Make John's Decision Impossible | The Voice | NBC
Video thumbnail
6:55
Highlight
Conor James and Tinika Wyatt's Gorgeous Performance Earns Kelsea's STEAL | The Voice Battles | NBC
Video thumbnail
5:27
Highlight
Dimitrius Graham & Divighn Deliver Perfect Harmonies on "Leave the Door Open" | Voice Battles | NBC
Video thumbnail
6:29
Highlight
Trevon Dawson & Tyler Kae Put a Country Spin on Avril Lavigne's "I'm with You" | Voice Battles | NBC

Whenever you hear “Holly Jolly Christmas” on the radio around the holidays, you can’t help but bounce along with it. The playful and happy song perfectly captures the festive season, and Michael Bublé’s cover has remained a favorite for years

How to Watch

Watch The Voice on Mondays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock. 

Written by Johnny Marks in the early 1960s, “A Holly Jolly Christmas” became a holiday classic when Burl Ives released his version in 1965. The song has been played countless times and is even featured in a scene from the 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which originally aired on NBC.

RELATED: Michael Bublé's Christmas Music and Holidays Specials Are a Gift That Keeps on Giving

Decades later, The Voice Coach recorded his own version. And, believe it or not, Bublé hadn’t originally planned to even include his cover of “Holly Jolly Christmas” on his multi-platinum holiday album, Christmas

Michael Bublé sang a jazzy cover of “Holly Jolly Christmas” in 2011

In October 2011, Bublé released his best-selling album, Christmas, which included covers of classic holidays songs like “Santa Baby” and a duet of “White Christmas” with Shania Twain. Bublé also sang Marks’ version of “Holly Jolly Christmas” with toe-tapping lyrics like "Oh, ho the mistletoe / Hung where you can see / Somebody waits for you / Kiss her once for me.” 

Bublé’s version is unique as it only includes his recognizable vocals as well as a fun electric guitar solo in the middle of the song. 

Michael Bublé didn’t originally plan to record “Holly Jolly Christmas” for his Christmas album

Michael Buble smiles in a tuxedo in front of Christmas decorations.

In a behind-the-scenes studio clip, Bublé shared that “Holly Jolly Christmas” wasn’t on the original song list for his 2011 Christmas album. But thanks to a little extra studio time, it made the final cut. 

“‘[The song] wasn’t even on the radar for us,” Bublé said. “We had just finished the recording session and we found out we had about 40 minutes left of studio time …  I kept sort of throwing out [different songs] and I said, well what about ['Holly Jolly Christmas']? Why don’t we just try it?”

Music producer David Foster, who’s worked on many of Bublé’s albums, said he “came up with an instant arrangement” to record the song as a quartet, describing the process as “kinda loosey-goosey.”

“Every time you do an album, there’s always that moment where you just go, ‘Oh what about that song?’’ Foster said. “You’re not prepared to do it, you’re not thinking about doing it, it just kind of pops into your head.” 

RELATED: Jimmy Fallon & More SNL Alums Befuddle Michael Bublé in This Silly Christmas Sketch

In the end, it was a success. Not only is Bublé's version regarded by Billboard as one of the most popular Christmas songs of the 21st century, the Canadian singer felt like it'd be a hit and he continues to perform it today. Like he did in a cute Instagram video in November 2024.  

“The feeling was so good,” Bublé said of recording the song. “It swung so hard and felt sort of rich and fun. It came out of nowhere, but sometimes that happens when you make a record. You think that you know for sure, the song list, and then something like that pops up and it’s really great.”

Sponsored Stories
Recommended by Zergnet