Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” has become one of country music’s most memorable Christmas songs, but Willie wasn’t the only legendary artist to record it. Marty Robbins also put his own spin on the holiday classic, though his version was released after his death.
Willie Nelson Wrote “Pretty Paper”
Before Willie Nelson became the country music icon known around the world, he was already making a name for himself as a songwriter. One of the songs that helped move his career forward was “Pretty Paper,” a Christmas song inspired by a real-life encounter in Fort Worth, Texas.
Nelson remembered seeing a street vendor outside a department store who had lost both legs. The man sold pencils and other stationery items and would call out “pretty paper” to attract the attention of shoppers passing by.
The memory stayed with Willie, eventually inspiring him to turn the experience into a song.
After signing with Monument Records, Nelson played “Pretty Paper” for the label’s founder and producer, Fred Foster. Foster recognized the song’s potential and passed it along to Roy Orbison, who became the first artist to record it.
Orbison released his version in 1963, and it quickly became a success. The song reached No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Willie released his own version the following year, and over the decades, numerous artists—including Glen Campbell and Kenny Chesney—have recorded the holiday favorite.
Marty Robbins Put His Own Spin on the Christmas Classic
Marty Robbins also recorded “Pretty Paper,” adding another legendary country voice to the song’s history.
Robbins released only one Christmas album during his lifetime, Christmas With Marty Robbins. However, his recording of “Pretty Paper” appeared on a different project.
His version was included on the posthumous Christmas album A Christmas Remembered, which featured several holiday favorites alongside “Pretty Paper,” including “Jingle Bell Rock” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
It’s another reminder of how far Willie Nelson’s songwriting has traveled. What began with a memory of a street vendor in Fort Worth eventually became a beloved Christmas song recorded by some of country music’s most recognizable voices—including Marty Robbins.