"Peter Cottontail" was written in 1949 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. This is the same writing duo that produced "Frosty The Snowman" the next year. Mervin Shiner was first to record the song and peaked at number eight on Billboard in 1950. Merv was a respected radio and television comedian.

Superstar Gene Autry was requested by the songwriters to record "Peter Cottontail". In 1950 Gene reached number three Country and number five on the Billboard charts. Gene sang the song in the 1951 movie "Hills Of Utah". Second billing in the movie went to Gene's horse Champion (the world's wonder horse), then followed Denver Pyle, William Fawcett and Pat Buttram.