Katie Beth Mihm Puts a Western Swing Spin on a Christmas Classic with “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy”
Katie Beth Mihm closes out the year with a nostalgic and lively Christmas release, offering her own take on “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy,” written by Buck Owens and Don Rich. For her, the decision was rooted in joy and familiarity. She first performed the song live last year and immediately connected with its story and energy. “We had so much fun,” she said. “I love the story it tells.”
Cover Art by Rusty Mihm.
Honoring Owens and Rich was a priority from the start. Their legacy, Katie Beth notes, is built on timeless storytelling which is something she values deeply as a country artist. “For lyrics and melody to be catchy and have purpose is important for the legacy you leave behind,” she explained. Rather than reinvent the classic, she approached the arrangement with care. “I didn’t want to change anything. I was respectful and careful to keep that same authenticity and nostalgic vibe of an old country Christmas song.”
Produced by Andrew Atkins and recorded at Parker House Studios in Amarillo, Texas, the track reflects their ongoing creative chemistry. Katie Beth credits Atkins’ sense of detail and precision for shaping the final sound. “If there is one little thing off or you can do better, he really pushes for perfection,” she said. The studio environment remained laid-back and collaborative, from sending early lyric ideas to building scratch tracks and layering in final vocals.
For this version, Katie Beth leaned into a western swing feel using fiddle, steel, and vintage-inspired acoustic tones. With Ben Braidfoot on steel paired with Rusty Mihm’s acoustic “cowboy chords”, it really captured the old-school spirit she envisioned. One of her favorite moments appears right at the top of the song: the opening “well,” delivered exactly the way she hoped. “It came out perfect,” she said.
“I wanted that western song feel... I wanted it to sound like a vintage song.”
Katie Beth also ties personal nostalgia to the track. She remembers hearing the song in stores as a kid during Christmas shopping and always loved its upbeat charm. Releasing a holiday single felt like the right move at this point in her career. It’s something fun, different, and true to her artistic direction. “I’m not a pop country person,” she said. “I want people to see me as a historical singer-songwriter who made an epic impact in country and Americana like Patsy Cline or Stevie Nicks.”
After previously releasing “Voodoo Queen” for Halloween, Katie Beth sees seasonal projects becoming a recurring part of her catalog. While it may be too late in the year for a full music video, she still hopes fans enjoy her spontaneous singing clips with Santas across Texas and Missouri. She also hopes listeners pick up on two details in the single, her signature twang and the subtle Christmas bells woven into the production.
Katie Beth wants her version of “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy” to create new memories for listeners the way the original shaped hers. “I hope they play it a lot during the holidays for their get-togethers,” she said. “I hope they love it.”
As she continues carving out her vintage-inspired lane in country and Americana, this Christmas single serves as another step toward the sound she’s building. A sound rooted in history, authenticity, and stories worth telling.
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