Mary, Did You Know ? - Wikipedia Mary, Did You Know ? A depiction of the Nativity of Jesus by Francesco Londonio ( c. 1750 ) `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' is a Christmas song with lyrics written by Mark Lowry and music written by Buddy Greene. It was originally recorded by Christian recording artist Michael English on his self - titled debut solo album in 1991 ( English and Lowry were both members of the Gaither Vocal Band at the time ). It reached No. 6 on CCM Magazine 's AC Chart. Lowry would record the song several times himself, most notably with the Gaither Vocal Band on their 1998 Christmas album Still the Greatest Story Ever Told. The song has since gone on to become a modern Christmas classic, being recorded by many artists over the years across multiple genres. Contents 1 Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd version 2 Clay Aiken version 3 Cee Lo Green version 4 Pentatonix version 5 Other notable versions 6 Musical 7 Criticism 8 References 9 External links Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd version `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' Single by Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd from the album The Gift Released December 1996 Format CD single Genre Country Length 3 : 53 Label Magnatone Songwriter ( s ) Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene Producer ( s ) Brent Maher, Jim McKell Kenny Rogers singles chronology `` I 'll Be There for You '' ( 1992 ) `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' ( 1996 ) `` The Greatest '' ( 1999 ) `` I 'll Be There for You '' ( 1992 ) `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' ( 1996 ) `` The Greatest '' ( 1999 ) A duet version recorded by Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers on Rogers ' holiday album The Gift peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997. Chart positions Chart ( 1997 ) Peak position US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) 55 Clay Aiken version `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' Single by Clay Aiken from the album Merry Christmas with Love Released 2005 Format Digital download Recorded Genre Contemporary Christian music, Latin Pop Length 3 : 21 Label RCA Songwriter ( s ) Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene Producer ( s ) Walter Afanasieff Clay Aiken singles chronology `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' ( 2005 ) `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' ( 2005 ) `` Without You '' ( 2006 ) `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas '' ( 2005 ) `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' ( 2005 ) `` Without You '' ( 2006 ) `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' is Clay Aiken 's fifth single for his Christmas album Merry Christmas with Love. Aiken performed the song on The Tyra Banks Show. Chart positions Chart ( 2005 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 35 U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Songs 32 Cee Lo green version `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' Song by Cee Lo Green from the album Cee Lo 's Magic Moment Released 2012 Format Digital download Recorded 2012 Genre R&B Length 3 : 54 Label RCA Songwriter ( s ) Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene Producer ( s ) Adam Anders, Peer Åström `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' is the eleventh track on Cee Lo 's Christmas album Cee Lo 's Magic Moment. On December 15, 2012 the song appeared on the US R&B Songs chart at number 22. This version is the slowest of all. It also served as the closing credits song to the 2014 20th Century Fox movie Son of God. Chart positions Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard R&B Songs 11 U.S. Billboard R&B / Hip - Hop Songs 44 Pentatonix version `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' Song by Pentatonix from the album That 's Christmas to Me Released October 17, 2014 Format Digital download Recorded 2012 Genre Ambient, a cappella Length 3 : 23 Label RCA Songwriter ( s ) Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene Music video `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' on YouTube `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' is the sixth track on Pentatonix 's second Christmas album, That 's Christmas to Me. The song both debuted and peaked at No. 26 on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 6, 2014. Chart positions Chart ( 2014 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 26 Other notable versions 1993 : Kathy Mattea on her Christmas album Good News, which won a Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album 1995 : Vickie Winans recorded the song for her self - titled album 1997 : Gary Chapman on his Christmas album This Gift 1998 : Donny Osmond on his album Christmas at Home 1999 : Natalie Cole on her album The Magic of Christmas 1999 : Reba McEntire on her Christmas album The Secret of Giving 2000 : The Gas House Gang on their album Some Children See Him... 2000 : Lea Salonga on her album The Christmas Album 2001 : Rescue on their album The First Christmas 2001 : Hayley Westenra on her second album, My Gift to You, released in New Zealand and Australia, by Universal New Zealand label ; also included as a bonus song on a special UK version of her first international album, Pure ( 2003 ) ; and performed it on her 2004 PBS Great Performances special, Live from New Zealand, which was released on DVD. 2004 : Glen Campbell recorded the song on his album Love Is the Answer : 24 Songs of Faith, Hope and Love. 2004 : The Katinas on their album Family Christmas 2005 : Jeff Fenholt on his album `` Down from His Glory ''... and more 2006 : Stan Whitmire on his album Christmas Around the Piano 2007 : Kimberley Locke on her album Christmas 2008 : Kutless on BEC Recordings album X Christmas 2008 : MC6 A Cappella on their album Christmas 2009 : Jerry Douglas on his album Jerry Christmas 2010 : Aled Jones on his album Aled 's Christmas Gift 2010 : Jessica Simpson on her album Happy Christmas 2011 : Rascal Flatts released a version of the song as a single, which appears on the 2012 compilation A Very Special Christmas : 25 Years Bringing Joy to the World 2012 : Don Moen on his album Christmas : A Season of Hope ( a duet with its composer, Buddy Greene ) 2012 : Jeremy Camp on his album Christmas : God with Us 2012 : Scotty McCreery on his album Christmas with Scotty McCreery 2013 : Mary J. Blige on her album A Mary Christmas 2013 : Linda Eder on her album Christmas Where You Are 2013 : The Oak Ridge Boys on their album Christmas Time 's A-Comin ' 2014 : Sanam Puri as solo cover 2014 : The slowest version of this song played in the credits of the film Son of God 2015 : India. Arie on Christmas with Friends ; a duet with Gene Moore, Jr. 2015 : Jordan Smith on The Voice 's season nine finals. This version debuted and peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 2 on the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on the week ending January 2, 2016. 2015 : Peter Hollens published a six - voice a cappella version on Youtube 2015 : The Braxtons on their album Braxton Family Christmas 2015 : Danny Gokey on his album Christmas Is Here 2016 : Straight No Chaser ( group ) on their album I 'll Have Another... Christmas Album ( Straight No Chaser album ) 2016 : Voctave on their album The Spirit of the Season ( feat. composer Mark Lowry ) 2016 : Beckah Shae on her album Let It Snow 2017 : Zara Larsson on the soundtrack of the CGI - animated Christmas film The Star Musical The song was also used as the basis for a stage musical, also titled Mary, Did You Know and written by Bruce Greer, that won the 1999 Dove Award for Musical of the Year. Criticism `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' remains a popular piece of Christmas music, although some criticize it for what they perceive as a lack of Scriptural or theological depth. For example, Lutheran writer Holly Scheer, in addressing the rhetorical - question title of the song writes that those familiar with `` the biblical account of Christ 's conception and birth should n't need to ask if Mary knew, because the Bible plainly tells us she did. '' On the other hand the Roman Catholic author Karl Erickson implored people to praise `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' as a `` beautiful expression of God 's love for all of us '' and responded to criticism of the piece, stating that `` Mary, Did You Know is a song and not a theological essay. Even as simple Christmas music, however, it does a fine job conveying the beauty and profound mystery of the Incarnation. Yes, there is some poetic license taken within the lyrics, but much less than is taken within innumerable other songs we are asked to sing regularly -- Sing a New Church, for example. '' References Jump up ^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee ( 2003 ). Hot hits : adult contemporary charts, 1978 - 2001 ( 1st ed. ). Bloomington, IN : 1stBooks Library. p. 86. ISBN 9781410732941. Jump up ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p93355/charts-awards/billboard-singles Jump up ^ `` Kenny Rogers Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ Clay Aiken - Mary Did You Know - The Tyra Banks Show on YouTube ^ Jump up to : https://www.billboard.com/artist/298842/cee+lo+green/chart?f=1230 Jump up ^ Official Video - Mary, Did You Know ? - Pentatonix on YouTube Jump up ^ `` Pentatonix Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2014. Jump up ^ Mary, did you know - Peter Hollens ( Youtube Video ) Jump up ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxDlLzSRp34 Jump up ^ Cusic, Don ( 2010 ). Encyclopedia of contemporary Christian music : pop, rock, and worship. ABC - CLIO. pp. 141 --. ISBN 978 - 0 - 313 - 34425 - 1. Retrieved 7 June 2011. Jump up ^ McTeigue SJ, Fr. Robert. `` The Problem With `` Mary Did You Know '' ``. Aleteia. Aleteia. Retrieved 27 November 2017. Jump up ^ `` Mary, Did You Know ? ''. EWTN. EWTN. Retrieved 27 November 2017. Jump up ^ Scheer, Holly ( 21 December 2016 ). `` Why ' Mary Did You Know ' Is The Most Biblically Illiterate Christmas Tune ''. The Federalist. Retrieved 27 November 2017. Jump up ^ Erickson, Karl ( 30 December 2015 ). `` What Did Mary Know ? ''. Catholic 365. Retrieved 27 November 2017. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Kenny Rogers Studio albums Love Lifted Me Kenny Rogers Daytime Friends Love or Something Like It The Gambler Kenny Gideon Share Your Love Love Will Turn You Around We 've Got Tonight Eyes That See in the Dark What About Me ? The Heart of the Matter They Do n't Make Them Like They Used To I Prefer the Moonlight Something Inside So Strong Love Is Strange Back Home Again If Only My Heart Had a Voice Vote for Love Across My Heart She Rides Wild Horses There You Go Again Back to the Well Water & Bridges The Love of God Amazing Grace You Ca n't Make Old Friends Collaboration albums Every Time Two Fools Collide ( with Dottie West ) Classics ( with Dottie West ) Timepiece ( with David Foster ) Christmas albums Christmas Once Upon a Christmas ( with Dolly Parton ) Christmas in America The Gift Christmas from the Heart Christmas with Kenny Christmas Collection Once Again It 's Christmas Compilations Ten Years of Gold The Kenny Rogers Singles Album Greatest Hits ( 1980 ) 20 Greatest Hits Duets The Kenny Rogers Story Love Is What We Make It Short Stories Greatest Hits ( 1988 ) Daytime Friends -- The Very Best of Kenny Rogers Live by Request 42 Ultimate Hits 21 Number Ones Notable singles `` That Crazy Feeling '' `` Just Dropped In ( To See What Condition My Condition Was In ) '' `` But You Know I Love You '' `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' `` Laura ( What 's He Got That I Ai n't Got ) '' `` Lucille '' `` Daytime Friends '' `` Sweet Music Man '' `` Every Time Two Fools Collide '' ( with Dottie West ) `` Love or Something Like It '' `` Anyone Who Is n't Me Tonight '' ( with Dottie West ) `` The Gambler '' `` All I Ever Need Is You '' ( with Dottie West ) `` She Believes in Me '' `` ' Til I Can Make It on My Own '' ( with Dottie West ) `` You Decorated My Life '' `` Coward of the County '' `` Do n't Fall in Love with a Dreamer '' ( with Kim Carnes ) `` Love the World Away '' `` Lady '' `` I Do n't Need You '' `` Share Your Love with Me '' `` Blaze of Glory '' `` Through the Years '' `` Love Will Turn You Around '' `` A Love Song '' `` We 've Got Tonight '' ( with Sheena Easton ) `` All My Life '' `` Scarlet Fever '' `` Islands in the Stream '' ( with Dolly Parton ) `` Eyes That See in the Dark '' `` This Woman '' `` Buried Treasure '' `` Together Again '' ( with Dottie West ) `` What About Me ? '' ( with Kim Carnes and James Ingram ) `` Evening Star '' `` Crazy '' `` Morning Desire '' `` Goodbye Marie '' `` Tomb of the Unknown Love '' `` Twenty Years Ago '' `` Make No Mistake, She 's Mine '' ( with Ronnie Milsap ) `` I Prefer the Moonlight '' `` The Factory '' `` I Do n't Call Him Daddy '' `` When You Put Your Heart in It '' `` Planet Texas '' `` The Vows Go Unbroken ( Always True to You ) '' `` Maybe '' ( with Holly Dunn ) `` Love Is Strange '' ( with Dolly Parton ) `` Crazy in Love '' `` If You Want to Find Love '' `` Ol ' Red '' `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' ( with Wynonna Judd ) `` The Greatest '' `` Buy Me a Rose '' ( with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean ) `` He Will, She Knows '' `` There You Go Again '' `` Homeland '' `` I Ca n't Unlove You '' Guest singles `` What Are We Doin ' in Love '' ( with Dottie West ) `` Real Love '' ( with Dolly Parton ) `` If I Ever Fall in Love Again '' ( with Anne Murray ) Related articles Discography The First Edition Kenny Rogers Roasters Book : Kenny Rogers Wynonna Judd Studio albums Wynonna Tell Me Why Revelations The Other Side New Day Dawning What the World Needs Now Is Love A Classic Christmas Sing : Chapter 1 Wynonna & the Big Noise Compilation albums Collection Her Story : Scenes from a Lifetime Love Heals Notable singles `` She Is His Only Need '' `` I Saw the Light '' `` No One Else on Earth '' `` My Strongest Weakness '' `` Tell Me Why '' `` Only Love '' `` Is It Over Yet '' `` Rock Bottom '' `` Girls with Guitars '' `` To Be Loved by You '' `` Heaven Help My Heart '' `` When Love Starts Talkin ' '' `` Come Some Rainy Day '' `` Ca n't Nobody Love You ( Like I Do ) '' `` What the World Needs '' `` Heaven Help Me '' `` Sing '' Guest singles `` A Bad Goodbye '' ( with Clint Black ) Related articles Discography The Judds Ashley Judd Naomi Judd Clay Aiken Albums Measure of a Man Merry Christmas with Love All Is Well A Thousand Different Ways On My Way Here Tried and True Compilations The Very Best of Clay Aiken Singles `` This Is the Night '' `` The Way '' / `` Solitaire '' `` On My Way Here '' Books Learning to Sing Related articles Discography National Inclusion Project Hayley Westenra New Zealand albums Walking in the Air Hayley Westenra My Gift to You International albums Pure Live from New Zealand Odyssey Treasure Hayley Sings Japanese Songs River of Dreams : The Very Best of Hayley Westenra Hayley Sings Japanese Songs 2 Winter Magic Paradiso Hushabye CeeLo Green Studio albums Cee - Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections Cee - Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine The Lady Killer Cee Lo 's Magic Moment Heart Blanche Compilations Closet Freak : The Best of Cee - Lo Green the Soul Machine Singles `` Fuck You '' `` It 's OK '' `` Fool for You '' `` Bright Lights Bigger City '' `` I Want You ( Hold On to Love ) '' `` Cry Baby '' `` Anyway '' `` Only You '' Promotional singles `` Less Than an Hour '' `` Georgia '' `` No One 's Gonna Love You '' `` Love Is a Battlefield '' Featured singles `` Sugar ( Gimme Some ) '' `` Politics '' `` Lil Star '' `` Pretty Please ( Love Me ) '' `` My Life '' `` Make the World Move '' Related articles Discography Awards Goodie Mob Gnarls Barkley Dungeon Family Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary,_Did_You_Know%3F&oldid=821747951 '' Categories : American Christmas songs Marian hymns Kenny Rogers songs Wynonna Judd songs Glen Campbell songs Vocal duets 1991 songs Clay Aiken songs Song recordings produced by Walter Afanasieff Song recordings produced by Brent Maher RCA Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Bahasa Indonesia Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 22 January 2018, at 11 : 30. 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Question: who wrote the words to the song mary did you know
Answer: Mark Lowry