The song of the day for Monday, December 22, 2025, the 9th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
A Personal Note
First of all, Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from The Year of Tony Bennett. Today’s song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” is my favorite Christmas song of them all. The first time I heard Judy Garland sing it, I was awestruck and get that exact same feeling every time I listen to it. And then there’s Hugh Martin. who was from Birmingham, Alabama, where I grew up. We both went to the same college (Birmingham-Southern College). I even got to meet him once; he would visit the music department when he visited Birmingham and I was briefly introduced to him. (Arranger Marion Evans also went to Birmingham-Southern; Evans worked with Tony Bennett on several albums.)
About This Song
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin for the 1944 film for Meet Me In St. Louis, where it was introduced by Judy Garland, who sang it to Margaret O’Brien (who won a special Academy Juvenile Award for her performance).
In a Twitter conversation in November 2012, Tony Bennett said that “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is his favorite Christmas song.
About This Version
Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Big Band, recorded “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in 2004 for A Swingin’ Christmas, released in 2008.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available on Apple Music.
Here’s Judy Garland’s extraordinary performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from the film Meet Me in St. Louis.