Mary, Did You Know?

"Mary, Did You Know?" is a Christmas song and Marian hymn with lyrics written by Mark Lowry and music written by Buddy Greene.

Background

Mark Lowry wrote the words in 1984 "when his pastor asked him to write the program for the living Christmas tree choir presentation. The music was written by Buddy Greene. Michael English was the first recording artist to record and release 'Mary, Did You Know?" on his debut album titled Michael English which was released on January 1, 1992. Country music artist Kathy Mattea recorded her version of the song in 1993 for her Christmas album "Good News", thus giving the song its first wide-spread exposure to Country radio.

Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd version

"Mary, Did You Know?"
Single by Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd
from the album The Gift
Released	1997
Format	Digital audio, digital download
Recorded	1996
Genre	Country
Length	3:53
Label	Magnatone
Kenny Rogers singles chronology
"I'll Be There For You" (1992) "Mary, Did You Know?" (1997) "The Greatest" (1999)

A duet version recorded by Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1997.

Chart positions

Chart (1997)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks[1]	55

Clay Aiken version

"Mary, Did You Know?"
Single by Clay Aiken
from the album Merry Christmas With Love
Released	2005
Format	Digital audio, digital download
Recorded	2004
Genre	CCM, adult contemporary
Length	3:21
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Lee Rufus Greenebill, Mark Alan Lowry
Producer	Walter Afanasieff
Clay Aiken singles chronology
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (2005) "Mary, Did You Know?" (2005) "Without You" (2006)

"Mary, Did You Know?" is Clay's fifth single for his Christmas album Merry Christmas With Love.

Chart positions

Chart (2005)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	35
U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Songs	32

Other versions

Hayley Westenra recorded the song on her second album, My Gift to You, released in New Zealand and Australia, by Universal New Zealand label in 2001. Producer James Hall called it her "most perceptive" song choice for the album.

The song was also included as a bonus song on a special UK version of her very successful first international album, Pure, in 2003, as well as the New Zealand version of her greatest hits album, River of Dreams: The Very Best of Hayley Westenra in 2008. Hayley also performed the song for her PBS Great Performances special, Live from New Zealand, which aired in 2004, and was released on DVD in 2005.

Other covered versions have been included by Kathleen Battle with Christopher Parkening, Glen Campbell, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, Reba McEntire, Donny Osmond, Clay Walker and Vikki Carr, Kimberley Locke, David Phelps, Helen Baylor, Kutless, TrinITee, Vickie Winans, and Billy Dean.

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p93355/charts-awards/billboard-singles