With a Voice Full of Southern Soul and an Aura of Genuine Elvis-Inspired Enchantment, Lainey Wilson Hit the Stage. Clad in Holiday Crimson and Rhinestones, She Strummed Her Guitar and Performed as if the King Himself Were Whispering. As She Crooned Through a Rock-And-Roll-Tinged Christmas Classic, the Spirit of Elvis Seemed to Dance in the Air, Alive in Every Note, Every Hip-Swaying Rhythm. The Audience, Swaying Between Nostalgia and Awe, Knew They Were Witnessing Something Special—a Moment Where past and Present Collided in Perfect Harmony. And as the Final Chord Rang Out into the Memphis Night, One Thing Was Certain—Elvis Would Have Been Proud.

On Wednesday night (November 29), Lainey Wilson performed a bluesy rendition of “Santa Claus Is Back in Town” on NBC’s Christmas At Graceland special, channeling Elvis Presley.

With her outstanding performance in front of the Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, the recently named CMA Entertainer of the Year pulled fans into the spirit of Christmas. With old cars and trucks parked in front of the colonial-style house acting as a backdrop, the concert took place in a gorgeous and classic environment.

Performed In Front Of The Graceland Mansion

Lainey Wilson; Photo by: Katherine Bomboy/NBC

Donning a festive bell-bottomed jumpsuit adorned with rhinestones, sequins, and a cape, Wilson added her own Bell Bottom Country flavor to the Elvis Presley Christmas hit. For her performance, she was joined by her touring band and special guest Meg McRee, who joined in on acoustic guitar and provided background vocals. In true Lainey Wilson fashion, she confidently navigated the set, delivering a highly entertaining performance for the audience.

Wilson gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at her performance on Instagram with a video that showcased her getting ready and walking around the iconic mansion.

“Well y’all…I sure am in the Christmas spirit now! ❤️🎄What a way to officially ring in the holidays by honoring the rock n roll legend himself, @elvis, at the beautiful @visitgraceland,” she captioned the post.

History Of The Song

“Santa Claus Is Back in Town” is a Christmas classic and was recorded by “The King of Rock and Roll” in 1957 for Elvis’ Christmas Album. The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and was the first track on the project. According to Billboard, Elvis’ Christmas Album is the biggest-selling Christmas album of all time in the United States.

This song has been covered by a variety of artists, including Dwight Yoakam, who released his cover as part of his 1997 Christmas album, Come On Christmas. It was released as a single and hit No.1 60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Who Else Performed?

Wilson was one of several country artists who appeared on the Christmas at Graceland special. The show also included performances by Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, and The War and Treaty as well as Alanis Morissette, John Legend, Lana Del Rey, and Post Malone. Each artist paid tribute to Elvis through one-of-a-kind performances that took place at the late music icon’s home – the Graceland estate.

Riley Keough, who is Elvis Presley’s granddaughter and an Emmy Award nominee (Daisy Jones & the Six) made special appearances throughout the show and also served as an executive producer under her Felix Culpa banner with partner Gina Gammell.

The inaugural Christmas at Graceland concert marks the first-ever televised performance from the estate, showcasing never-before-broadcast footage of Elvis. It aired on NBC immediately following Christmas in Rockefeller Center.

Following her performance at the Graceland estate, Wilson will return to the road. She has several shows planned through the end of the year, including a four-night run at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.