Johnny Owens keeps the Bakersfield torch burning with ‘Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy’

The song is a cover of his dad’s Christmas classic

Country music artist Johnny Owens is set to bring a dose of classic Bakersfield cheer to the holiday season with the release of his new festive single, a cover of the timeless holiday classic “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” arriving on all major streaming platforms.

Originally co-written and recorded by his father, country music legend Buck Owens, and his longtime guitarist Don Rich in 1965, “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy” tells the lighthearted, humorous story of a child sneaking downstairs on Christmas Eve only to realize that Old Saint Nick looks suspiciously familiar. The original single famously peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Christmas singles chart. Now, exactly 20 years since his father’s passing in 2006, Johnny Owens steps up to the microphone to deliver a fresh yet historically faithful rendition that preserves the raw energy, driving rhythm, and signature twang of the historic Bakersfield Sound.

“I’m excited to release my version of “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy,” shares Owens. “It’s always been a special song to me, not only because my dad wrote and recorded it, but because it’s become such a fun part of his Christmas legacy. Getting to put my own touch on it while honoring Dad and the original was something I really wanted to do. I hope it brings back some great memories for longtime fans and becomes part of Christmas for a whole new generation.”

The release follows on the heels of Johnny’s widely praised late-2026 singles, “Act Naturally” and “Together Again,” which have served as powerful previews for his forthcoming full-length tribute compilation album. The ten-track collection is designed to celebrate Buck’s extraordinary career while introducing a new generation of listeners to traditional, unfiltered country storytelling.

Fans can expect to hear the holiday track alongside timeless Buck Owens staples, Merle Haggard classics, and behind-the-scenes stories on Johnny Owens’ current tour, Johnny Owens and the Bakersfield Sound, which is actively extending dates into 2027.