"What's cool about this is that she'll forever be 10 years old ... and Mathilda, however old she was, she's back with us." ...

The Oklahoma City Zoo unveiled a statue commemorating Gayla Peevey, the singer behind “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” ...

The OKC Zoo dedicates its new bronze art installation "Gayla’s Hippo Hero," which celebrates the connection between the zoo ...

Oklahoma City native Gayla Peevey speaks about her iconic Christmas song and decades-long bond with the OKC Zoo as a statue is to be unveiled in her honor.

The OKC Zoo celebrated Christmas in July with Peevey — an Oklahoma City native who was just 10 years old when she recorded the cheery 1953 yuletide ditty "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas ...

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.

An Oklahoma Christmas music legend is getting some permanent recognition, as the OKC Zoo is honoring Gayla Peevey with a statue of her and her beloved Christmas gift.

The Oklahoma City Zoo got one today! A bronze statue of a hippo that is. It’s to celebrate the iconic Christmas song sung by ...

And Oklahoma's own 10-year-old singer Gayla Peevey became a holiday sensation. With inspiration from the song and the zoo's desire for a hippo, a fundraising campaign began, ...

In 1953, Gayla Peevey used the popularity of her hit "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" to help the OKC Zoo get its first hippo. Mathilda.