Singing Cowboy Gene Autry Sings “Peter Cottontail” In 1951 Movie “Hills of Utah”

He had a one-of-a-kind voice that will go down in history. Not only was he a famous singer, he was a talented actor, host, and performer. Gene Autry, who gained fame as the singing cowboy beginning in the 1930s, is also remembered for his Christmas songs “Here Comes Santa Claus,” which he wrote, and “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.”

Thanks to the success of those songs, the men who wrote the song “Frosty the Snowman,” knew they had to ask Autry to sing their new Easter-themed song called “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.” His 1950 version reached No. 3 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and No. 5 on the Hot 100 chart.

It was also included in Autry’s 1951 film Hills of Utah, where he played a frontier doctor who sets up a practice in the middle of a long-standing feud between ranchers and miners. The scene where he sings “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” he is fixing a family’s window and is somehow angering town dwellers, but we aren’t sure how! He has the voice of an angel and his performance warms our hearts every time we watch it.

Watch his wonderful performance below. Feel free to sing along!