Olivia Rodrigo's Holiday Single Picked Up the 'Vibe' of '80s Classic, Says Its Writer
Chris Butler, who wrote The Waitresses' 'Christmas Wrapping', praises Rodrigo's 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)', noting similarities in spirit.
Olivia Rodrigo has released her first holiday single, titled 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)', drawing effusive praise from Chris Butler, the writer of the iconic 1980s hit 'Christmas Wrapping' by The Waitresses. Butler commended Rodrigo's track for capturing a similar 'loose, spry and irreverently romantic spirit' to his own classic, highlighting the enduring charm of both songs 13.
The new single, produced by Dan Nigro and co-written by Rodrigo, Amy Allen, and Nigro, tells the story of meeting one's partner's extended family for the first time during the festive season. This narrative choice adds a personal touch to the holiday cheer, making the song relatable to many listeners 23.
Rodrigo's latest offering is part of a rich tapestry of musical releases and events. It follows the 'Expectations' remix featuring David Byrne, which itself was an update of a track from Rodrigo's 2026 album 'You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love' 2. Additionally, Rodrigo is currently embarking on the Unraveled Tour, sharing the stage with notable acts such as Grace Ives and Wolf Alice 2.
In the realm of charitable endeavors, Rodrigo has made waves with her Daisy Chain Fields festival, which she launched earlier in the year. This event not only showcased her artistic talents but also raised a significant sum of $20 million for important causes like Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights 2.
The music video for 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)' features Ben Marshall as Rodrigo's love interest and Cynthia Nixon as his mother, adding a charming visual element to the song's narrative 23. Furthermore, the video pays homage to the miniseries 'Normal People', showcasing Rodrigo's penchant for cultural references 3.
Interestingly, Rodrigo has mentioned that the beloved TV series 'Sex And The City' had a profound influence on her new album, inspiring several of its tracks 3. This connection to pop culture classics further enriches the thematic landscape of Rodrigo's work.
What We Know
- Olivia Rodrigo released her first holiday single titled 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)' 123
- The song was praised by Chris Butler, the writer of 'Christmas Wrapping' by The Waitresses 1
- The music video features Ben Marshall and Cynthia Nixon 23
- The song is about meeting one's partner's extended family for the first time 2
- 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)' was produced by Dan Nigro and written by him, Rodrigo, and Amy Allen 3
- Rodrigo's song draws inspiration from The Waitresses' 'Christmas Wrapping' 3
- Rodrigo's original 'Expectations' song was on her 2026 album 'You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love' 2
- Rodrigo is currently touring with the Unraveled Tour 2
- Rodrigo started a benefit music festival called Daisy Chain Fields earlier in the year 2
- Daisy Chain Fields raised $20 million for organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Center for Reproductive Rights 2
- Rodrigo mentioned that Sex And The City influenced her new album 3
- The music video references the miniseries Normal People 3
- A melancholic track named 'miss this christmas' is available exclusively on vinyl and cassette 3
Trust Score report
Likely accurate — probability of truth 73%, weighted across 16 claims from 3 independent outlets.
- confirmed Olivia Rodrigo released her first holiday single titled 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)' (92%)
- likely The music video features Ben Marshall as Rodrigo's love interest and Cynthia Nixon as his mother. (82%)
- likely Chris Butler, the writer of 'Christmas Wrapping' by The Waitresses, praised Rodrigo's song. (71%)
- likely Butler described Rodrigo's song as having a similar 'loose, spry and irreverently romantic spirit' to 'Christmas Wrapping'. (71%)
- likely The song is about meeting one's partner's extended family for the first time. (70%)
- likely 'take me home (4 christmas)' was produced by Dan Nigro and written by him, Rodrigo, and Amy Allen. (67%)
- likely The song draws inspiration from the Waitresses' 'Christmas Wrapping'. (67%)
- likely Rodriguo's song was shared with Butler approximately two months before its release. (71%)
- likely 'Take Me Home (4 Christmas)' follows the 'Expectations' remix featuring David Byrne. (70%)
- likely Rodrigo's original 'Expectations' song was on her 2026 album 'You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love'. (70%)
- likely Rodrigo is currently touring with the Unraveled Tour, which includes artists like Grace Ives and Wolf Alice. (70%)
- likely Rodrigo started a benefit music festival called Daisy Chain Fields earlier in the year. (70%)
- likely Daisy Chain Fields raised $20 million for organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Center for Reproductive Rights. (70%)
- likely Rodrigo mentioned that Sex And The City influenced her new album and inspired several of its songs. (67%)
- likely The music video references the miniseries Normal People. (67%)
- likely A melancholic track named 'miss this christmas' is available exclusively on vinyl and cassette. (67%)
Sources
- Variety — Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Take Me Home (4 Christmas)’ Effusively Endorsed by Writer of the Waitresses’ ‘Christmas Wrapping,’ Who Praises Her for Picking Up the ‘Vibe’ 45 Years Later
https://variety.com/2026/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-christmas-praised-writer-waitresses-wrapping-1236941752/ - Pitchfork — Listen to Olivia Rodrigo’s New Song “Take Me Home (4 Christmas)”
https://pitchfork.com/story/listen-to-olivia-rodrigos-new-song-take-me-home-4-christmas/ - Stereogum — Olivia Rodrigo – “take me home (4 christmas)”
https://stereogum.com/2516456/olivia-rodrigo-take-me-home-4-christmas/music/