How a Last-Minute Song Change Saved the Iconic Bing Crosby–David Bowie Christmas Duet

The now-beloved Christmas duet between Bing Crosby and David Bowie Crosby’s 1977 TV special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, but it nearly fell apart before cameras even rolled — all because Bowie strongly disliked the original song choice.

According to the show’s writers, Bowie was unhappy when he learned he was expected to sing “Little Drummer Boy.” While he respected Crosby and knew how much his own mother adored him, Bowie made his feelings very clear.

He flatly refused.

One of the show’s writers, Larry Grossman, later recalled that Bowie said he hated the song and would not appear on the special if he had to sing it. Bowie reportedly explained that he was only doing the show at all because his mother loved Bing Crosby so much.

Faced with the possibility of losing Bowie entirely, the production team had to think fast.

Instead of scrapping the duet, Grossman and co-writer Buz Kohan came up with a creative solution: they would keep “Little Drummer Boy,” but write a brand-new counter-melody Bowie could sing over it. That new piece became “Peace on Earth.”

Working quickly, the writers completed the new arrangement in about an hour. When they presented it to Bowie, he agreed to perform it.

Crosby, for his part, embraced the challenge. Kohan later said that Crosby managed to adapt beautifully, keeping his signature warmth and relaxed style while blending seamlessly with Bowie’s modern tone.

The special was taped in September 1977. Tragically, Crosby died of a heart attack just five weeks later at age 74. The hour-long program aired after his death — in late November in the United States and on Christmas Eve in England — making the duet even more emotional for viewers.

Years later, the song took on a life of its own. “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” was released as a single by RCA Records in 1982 and climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. It became Crosby’s final major hit and sold more than 400,000 copies in the UK alone, while also standing out as a unique moment in Bowie’s career.

The holiday special featured several other well-known performers, including Twiggy, Ron Moody, Stanley Baxter, the Trinity Boys Choir, and members of the Crosby family — but it was the unexpected pairing of Crosby and Bowie that became timeless.

What nearly collapsed due to a creative clash ultimately turned into one of the most enduring and unusual Christmas performances ever recorded — all thanks to a last-minute rewrite and a willingness to compromise.