Proving that even the greatest singers, musicians and producers don’t always know when they’ve created a hit, Elvis Presley’s classic version of “Blue Christmas” almost didn’t happen.

As Genius.com notes, Presley didn’t even want to record the song during a scheduled studio session in 1957.

The late Millie Kirkham, the Nashville singer who sang soprano during the session, recalled Presley saying, “Let’s just get this over with.” During an interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, she said everyone involved in the recording had the same reaction.

“That’s one record the record company will never release,” she said.

Read the lyrics and learn more about the story behind “Blue Christmas” and other holiday songs -- old and new.

"You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch," Darius Rucker

"Where Are You Christmas," Faith Hill

"The Old Man's Back in Town," Garth Brooks

"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," Elmo & Patsy