Gayla Rienette Peevey (born March 8, 1943) is a former singer and child star from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is best known for her recording of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (Columbia 4-40106, 1953). Peevey recorded the novelty song when she was 10 years old. In 1960, under the name Jamie Horton, she had a minor hit with her single "My Little Marine" (Joy 45-234, 1959),[1] which reached #84 on Billboard's Hot 100 in early 1960.[2] She also recorded "Robot Man", a cover of a Connie Francis UK hit, but it failed to reach the charts.[3]