December 3, 2025 • 11 mins
Taylor Momsen joins Drew Savage for a special edition of behind the Christmas Hits to talk about her new EP Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas - including her all-new recording of Where Are You Christmas - Which features a duet with her 6 year old self!
Taylor Momsen talks about 25 years of the 2000 Classic live action Grinch movie, and how many fond memories she has on set from those days as a child.
Taylor Momsen talks about the tongue in cheek themes of 'Pretty Reckless Christmas' and reuniting with Jim Carrey at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Taylor Momsen might be the first person to ever record
a Christmas hit with herself. This is the story of
Taylor Momsen's pretty reckless Christmas. Behind the Christmas hits with
Drew Savage.
Taylor Momsen was only 3 years old when she booked
her first professional acting gig in a TV commercial for
(00:23):
Shake and Bake. Remember that? When she was 6, Ron
Howard cast her as Cindy Lou Who in How the
Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey.
And a child star was born. Fun fact, she auditioned
for the role of Hannah Montana, a role that ultimately
went to Miley Cyrus, something Taylor later said she was
thankful for. But the rigors of being on TV every
(00:44):
week at a young age was something she'd experienced in 2007,
when she was cast as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl.
I was a big fan of that show, but behind
the scenes it was a rocky road for Taylor. However,
it was during.
Run on that show that she decided to pursue her
true passion, music, a spark that was ignited by being
in a recording studio during the filming of The Grinch.
(01:06):
She formed her band, The Pretty Reckless in 2009, and
since then they've become the first female fronted band to
have seven number one songs on Billboard's mainstream rock charts.
How cool is that? Taylor is having a full circle
moment in 2025, just as.
The Grinch celebrates its 25th anniversary. Taylor has a brand
new 6 song EP titled Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas,
(01:31):
where she revisits that first song she ever sang in
a recording studio, plus 5 new Christmas songs. Taylor Momsen
joins us on this episode of Behind the Christmas
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Hits. Oh my God, thank you for having me. Thank
Speaker 1 (01:42):
you. Congratulations on the album, Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas. Uh,
it grabs you.
Right away with that clip from Jay Leno on The
Tonight Show where he's introducing you on what I'm assuming
is your first appearance on The Tonight Show when you're
7 years
old. It
Speaker 2 (01:57):
was, it was,
Speaker 1 (01:59):
you, it goes, and then it goes right into you
singing with yourself, and I can't think of many albums
that start that
way.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I can't really think of any that I know off
the top of my head, but it was.
I'm so happy it's out, and it's, it's so, it
was so fun and so heartwarming and strangely emotional, like
unexpectedly emotional for me to do that, um, to duet
with my six year old self. It's just something that's
something I never thought I'd do. And, and when I
(02:29):
was actually in the studio recording it and I listened
back for the first time, like, I welled up, like
there's something very sweet about it.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Fans have been asking you to record Where Are You
Christmas for a very long time now, so now that
you finally have, now
How does it feel knowing other people, the people that
have been asking for it for so long have heard it? What,
how are you feeling with that now?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I
feel great. I'm like the response has been amazing, and
I'm so happy that it's like it really was for
the fans. Like this is a giant, this whole record
is a giant present to the fans. So I'm, I'm
glad that they're loving it so far, and I just,
I really hope that I can, you know, spread some
joy this year. Like that's, that's my whole goal with
this record is to just spread some happiness and spread
(03:10):
some joy and
You know, make some people smile, cause I think we
could all use that right now, like, it's a very
hard time in the world, and I think that everyone
needs a little bit of, a little bit of heartwarming
nostalgia and a little bit of extra Christmas cheer.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
I don't know how often you go back and rewatch
The Grinch. I mean, it's probably not as often as
some of the rest of us do, um, but you
must have spent some time with it, uh, to prepare to,
to sing the song. I'm just wondering what goes through
your mind when you listen to your six year old
self sing those words.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I mean, I crack up every time because, like, you know,
my voice, it's, it's so shaky and so young, and,
you know, obviously hasn't changed yet, but, um, but it
always brings a smile to my face, and I think
that that's the point. Like, I, you can't, I can't
hear the song or watch the scene or watch the film,
any of it without having a stupid grin on my face,
and I think that that's, that's part of why I
(04:03):
think the Grinch has resonated with people so much over
the years is that it's just
It's so universally loved, like it's for everyone, you know,
it's for kids, it's for adults, it's, it, there's no,
there's no division in the Grinch at all, and I
think that that's just amazing to be a part of
something that is so, brings people so much joy.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Monday, as we're recording this, uh, Monday, November 17th was
the 25th anniversary of the, the release of the film.
It sounds like it had been a while maybe since
you've watched it. When was the last time that you
would have
watched it?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I mean, watched it in full. I'm
Not entirely sure. I'm definitely gonna watch it in full
this year, um, because I actually want to go see
it in theaters because they're doing the full re-release, which
I think is really, that would be a really fun
experience for me because I haven't seen it in theaters
since it came out. Um, but I, I make sure
to watch like a couple scenes at least every year, um,
you know, I'm flicking channels and I put it on
(04:53):
cause it's so just a part of my life. But
at the same time, watching myself is always weird in
any form of myself. So it's always a little like,
But, uh, but, but no, I, I have such a
warm spot of the Grinch in my heart now, and, um,
I'm excited to watch the whole thing this year.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
What were the
emotions that you were feeling as, as you were going
through this uh process? You said that this was a
real emotional thing for you to do. What, what were
those emotions that you were feeling? How did it bring
you back? I
Speaker 2 (05:23):
mean, it just brought me back to a time when
things were like easier, you know, like it was, it
was simpler, um.
And so remember, you know, I had a very strange upbringing, and,
you know, not all of it was good, but the
Grinch for me was. And so coming to, coming to
that realization before we actually recorded it, which was kind
of part of the reason I wanted to do it,
(05:45):
was the Grinch's only fond memories for me. Like that
was my childhood, and that was the thing that when
I look back on it, like, I loved it. I
loved the whole experience getting to work with Ron and
Jim and
The crazy sets and the costumes and the, you know,
the onset family really became my surrogate family, and to
have those memories, um, as an adult and, and be
(06:08):
able to look at them fondly, I think
I don't know, it just really warmed my heart, I guess, like,
it made me go, it, it made me appreciate it,
you know, looking at it through an adult lens in
a way that I probably haven't in a long time,
because it's just something I did and it's something that
I shunned for a long time, and now, like, actually
revisiting it and, and really looking at it for what
(06:30):
it was, um, it just made me really happy and
really proud, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
You probably are, can accept it so much differently having
been through all of that. So the journey is worth taking.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
The journey is always worth taking. That's, that's my motto
in life. But, uh, but I think that that journey
in particular, like I hadn't, I had no idea as
a kid, of course, how could I, that that film
would impact my life the way that it did from
not just from the like success of the of the
movie and that kind of thing, but from that was
my first experience.
In a recording studio and getting to work with James
(07:03):
Horner and hear my voice through compression and a microphone
and headphones for the first time, and where I, like,
that's where I fell in love with the recording studio,
which to this day is my favorite place in the world. Um,
you know, all of those kind of collective memories and
experiences formed who I am today. And so, to really
be able to take a step back from that 25
(07:25):
years later and look at it.
With the lens that I have today is just, it's
a very surreal feeling and it's, it's very
Speaker 1 (07:32):
cool. You mentioned Jim Carrey a couple of moments ago.
You just saw him at the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame induction ceremonies, which I, I think I heard
you say was a total surprise. Uh, you were so
young when you made that movie, so I don't know
how many very specific things.
Beyond just a general feeling you have, but, but what
are the memories you have of working with Jim and, and,
and being on set with Jim in that movie?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I actually
have quite a few, um, and, you know, it's weird
when looking back on your life and you try to go,
how much do I actually remember and how much do
I remember because it was all filmed and I've seen it. Um, but,
you know, I spent some time with it and I
remember quite a bit and seeing him in person again
and
Like I don't, I don't entirely know how to explain it.
(08:15):
Like when we saw each other and we hugged, it
was like, I think both of us felt this cosmic
connection of, you know, I know you, like I, I
know you really well, like your family, like it's, it,
he felt like home to me in this really beautiful
kind of way that sounds made up or crazy cause
it's 25 years when I was a kid, but like,
it was so familiar.
(08:37):
Um, and just amazingly wonderful because he was so great
to me on set. Like he was, he was protective
of me. He, like, he cared about me so deeply
as a person, um, and as a kid and just
was always checking in with me and made me laugh.
And like, we spent, like, it was like 2 years together.
So it's, it makes sense in one way, but you
put all this life in between it, and at one time,
(08:58):
and it, in one way, it was like no time
had passed at all, yet we've both grown up so much.
And so it was, it was just a really
Beautiful, surreal moment that like feels like the universe planned
it and it was just happenstance.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
It probably wouldn't have been different if you knew you
were going to see him, or it wouldn't have been
the same rather, if, if you knew you were going
to
see
Speaker 2 (09:17):
him. I don't know. I mean, I found out a
couple of days before Matt Cameron, Matt Cameron told me,
and just the, just even that alone, like the fact
that Soundgarden, because he was there inducting them and I
was there performing with them, and the fact that Soundgarden
was Jim Carrey's favorite band while we were making the film.
And I had yet to discover Soundgarden, but you fast
forward a few years later, and Soundgarden has impacted my
(09:38):
life more than any other band in the world, and
it all culminates there at that night at the 25th
anniversary of the Grinch, and but like, you know, all
those things, like it's just, it, it feels scripted. Like it's,
it's too, it's too.
Crazy, and it was just awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas is the name of the EP.
It is out now. It's not just Where Are You Christmas.
There are 5 other original Christmas songs on the album.
I think a lot of people will relate to, uh,
Christmas is Killing me, uh, about the craziness of the holidays,
and I just want to mention how much I love
the final line. Someone stop Mariah Carey.
(10:14):
Because it works on a couple of different levels. If
you're talking about the, the craziness of Christmas, of course,
that's the obvious song to have some fun with, but also,
I don't know how many people are aware that Mariah
co-wrote Where Are You Christmas, so it also feels like
a bit of a tip of the cap to Mariah
on that,
Speaker 2 (10:30):
uh, it totally is. And first of all, love Mariah,
you know, all this whole record's done with a wink
and a smile and some tongue in cheekness, you know,
love Mariah. But you know, I felt like Christmas needed
a little bit of a reboot, like, you know.
We, we need a little freshness for the holiday.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
We don't get a whole lot of rock and roll
Christmas albums, but we got this one, and it's a
ton of fun. Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas. Thanks so
much for the time.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Thank you so much for having me. Happy
Speaker 1 (10:54):
holidays. I'm Drew Savage. You can find me on Instagram
at Drew Savage on air. If you enjoyed this conversation
with Taylor, please leave us a rating and review. It
does help other people find the show. And don't forget
to hit subscribe before you go, so you never miss
a story behind the Christmas hits.
Taylor Momsen might be the first person to ever record
a Christmas hit with herself. This is the story of
Taylor Momsen's pretty reckless Christmas. Behind the Christmas hits with
Drew Savage.
Taylor Momsen was only 3 years old when she booked
her first professional acting gig in a TV commercial for
(00:23):
Shake and Bake. Remember that? When she was 6, Ron
Howard cast her as Cindy Lou Who in How the
Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey.
And a child star was born. Fun fact, she auditioned
for the role of Hannah Montana, a role that ultimately
went to Miley Cyrus, something Taylor later said she was
thankful for. But the rigors of being on TV every
(00:44):
week at a young age was something she'd experienced in 2007,
when she was cast as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl.
I was a big fan of that show, but behind
the scenes it was a rocky road for Taylor. However,
it was during.
Run on that show that she decided to pursue her
true passion, music, a spark that was ignited by being
in a recording studio during the filming of The Grinch.
(01:06):
She formed her band, The Pretty Reckless in 2009, and
since then they've become the first female fronted band to
have seven number one songs on Billboard's mainstream rock charts.
How cool is that? Taylor is having a full circle
moment in 2025, just as.
The Grinch celebrates its 25th anniversary. Taylor has a brand
new 6 song EP titled Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas,
(01:31):
where she revisits that first song she ever sang in
a recording studio, plus 5 new Christmas songs. Taylor Momsen
joins us on this episode of Behind the Christmas
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Hits. Oh my God, thank you for having me. Thank
Speaker 1 (01:42):
you. Congratulations on the album, Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas. Uh,
it grabs you.
Right away with that clip from Jay Leno on The
Tonight Show where he's introducing you on what I'm assuming
is your first appearance on The Tonight Show when you're
7 years
old. It
Speaker 2 (01:57):
was, it was,
Speaker 1 (01:59):
you, it goes, and then it goes right into you
singing with yourself, and I can't think of many albums
that start that
way.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I can't really think of any that I know off
the top of my head, but it was.
I'm so happy it's out, and it's, it's so, it
was so fun and so heartwarming and strangely emotional, like
unexpectedly emotional for me to do that, um, to duet
with my six year old self. It's just something that's
something I never thought I'd do. And, and when I
(02:29):
was actually in the studio recording it and I listened
back for the first time, like, I welled up, like
there's something very sweet about it.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Fans have been asking you to record Where Are You
Christmas for a very long time now, so now that
you finally have, now
How does it feel knowing other people, the people that
have been asking for it for so long have heard it? What,
how are you feeling with that now?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I
feel great. I'm like the response has been amazing, and
I'm so happy that it's like it really was for
the fans. Like this is a giant, this whole record
is a giant present to the fans. So I'm, I'm
glad that they're loving it so far, and I just,
I really hope that I can, you know, spread some
joy this year. Like that's, that's my whole goal with
this record is to just spread some happiness and spread
(03:10):
some joy and
You know, make some people smile, cause I think we
could all use that right now, like, it's a very
hard time in the world, and I think that everyone
needs a little bit of, a little bit of heartwarming
nostalgia and a little bit of extra Christmas cheer.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
I don't know how often you go back and rewatch
The Grinch. I mean, it's probably not as often as
some of the rest of us do, um, but you
must have spent some time with it, uh, to prepare to,
to sing the song. I'm just wondering what goes through
your mind when you listen to your six year old
self sing those words.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I mean, I crack up every time because, like, you know,
my voice, it's, it's so shaky and so young, and,
you know, obviously hasn't changed yet, but, um, but it
always brings a smile to my face, and I think
that that's the point. Like, I, you can't, I can't
hear the song or watch the scene or watch the film,
any of it without having a stupid grin on my face,
and I think that that's, that's part of why I
(04:03):
think the Grinch has resonated with people so much over
the years is that it's just
It's so universally loved, like it's for everyone, you know,
it's for kids, it's for adults, it's, it, there's no,
there's no division in the Grinch at all, and I
think that that's just amazing to be a part of
something that is so, brings people so much joy.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Monday, as we're recording this, uh, Monday, November 17th was
the 25th anniversary of the, the release of the film.
It sounds like it had been a while maybe since
you've watched it. When was the last time that you
would have
watched it?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I mean, watched it in full. I'm
Not entirely sure. I'm definitely gonna watch it in full
this year, um, because I actually want to go see
it in theaters because they're doing the full re-release, which
I think is really, that would be a really fun
experience for me because I haven't seen it in theaters
since it came out. Um, but I, I make sure
to watch like a couple scenes at least every year, um,
you know, I'm flicking channels and I put it on
(04:53):
cause it's so just a part of my life. But
at the same time, watching myself is always weird in
any form of myself. So it's always a little like,
But, uh, but, but no, I, I have such a
warm spot of the Grinch in my heart now, and, um,
I'm excited to watch the whole thing this year.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
What were the
emotions that you were feeling as, as you were going
through this uh process? You said that this was a
real emotional thing for you to do. What, what were
those emotions that you were feeling? How did it bring
you back? I
Speaker 2 (05:23):
mean, it just brought me back to a time when
things were like easier, you know, like it was, it
was simpler, um.
And so remember, you know, I had a very strange upbringing, and,
you know, not all of it was good, but the
Grinch for me was. And so coming to, coming to
that realization before we actually recorded it, which was kind
of part of the reason I wanted to do it,
(05:45):
was the Grinch's only fond memories for me. Like that
was my childhood, and that was the thing that when
I look back on it, like, I loved it. I
loved the whole experience getting to work with Ron and
Jim and
The crazy sets and the costumes and the, you know,
the onset family really became my surrogate family, and to
have those memories, um, as an adult and, and be
(06:08):
able to look at them fondly, I think
I don't know, it just really warmed my heart, I guess, like,
it made me go, it, it made me appreciate it,
you know, looking at it through an adult lens in
a way that I probably haven't in a long time,
because it's just something I did and it's something that
I shunned for a long time, and now, like, actually
revisiting it and, and really looking at it for what
(06:30):
it was, um, it just made me really happy and
really proud, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
You probably are, can accept it so much differently having
been through all of that. So the journey is worth taking.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
The journey is always worth taking. That's, that's my motto
in life. But, uh, but I think that that journey
in particular, like I hadn't, I had no idea as
a kid, of course, how could I, that that film
would impact my life the way that it did from
not just from the like success of the of the
movie and that kind of thing, but from that was
my first experience.
In a recording studio and getting to work with James
(07:03):
Horner and hear my voice through compression and a microphone
and headphones for the first time, and where I, like,
that's where I fell in love with the recording studio,
which to this day is my favorite place in the world. Um,
you know, all of those kind of collective memories and
experiences formed who I am today. And so, to really
be able to take a step back from that 25
(07:25):
years later and look at it.
With the lens that I have today is just, it's
a very surreal feeling and it's, it's very
Speaker 1 (07:32):
cool. You mentioned Jim Carrey a couple of moments ago.
You just saw him at the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame induction ceremonies, which I, I think I heard
you say was a total surprise. Uh, you were so
young when you made that movie, so I don't know
how many very specific things.
Beyond just a general feeling you have, but, but what
are the memories you have of working with Jim and, and,
and being on set with Jim in that movie?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I actually
have quite a few, um, and, you know, it's weird
when looking back on your life and you try to go,
how much do I actually remember and how much do
I remember because it was all filmed and I've seen it. Um, but,
you know, I spent some time with it and I
remember quite a bit and seeing him in person again
and
Like I don't, I don't entirely know how to explain it.
(08:15):
Like when we saw each other and we hugged, it
was like, I think both of us felt this cosmic
connection of, you know, I know you, like I, I
know you really well, like your family, like it's, it,
he felt like home to me in this really beautiful
kind of way that sounds made up or crazy cause
it's 25 years when I was a kid, but like,
it was so familiar.
(08:37):
Um, and just amazingly wonderful because he was so great
to me on set. Like he was, he was protective
of me. He, like, he cared about me so deeply
as a person, um, and as a kid and just
was always checking in with me and made me laugh.
And like, we spent, like, it was like 2 years together.
So it's, it makes sense in one way, but you
put all this life in between it, and at one time,
(08:58):
and it, in one way, it was like no time
had passed at all, yet we've both grown up so much.
And so it was, it was just a really
Beautiful, surreal moment that like feels like the universe planned
it and it was just happenstance.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
It probably wouldn't have been different if you knew you
were going to see him, or it wouldn't have been
the same rather, if, if you knew you were going
to
see
Speaker 2 (09:17):
him. I don't know. I mean, I found out a
couple of days before Matt Cameron, Matt Cameron told me,
and just the, just even that alone, like the fact
that Soundgarden, because he was there inducting them and I
was there performing with them, and the fact that Soundgarden
was Jim Carrey's favorite band while we were making the film.
And I had yet to discover Soundgarden, but you fast
forward a few years later, and Soundgarden has impacted my
(09:38):
life more than any other band in the world, and
it all culminates there at that night at the 25th
anniversary of the Grinch, and but like, you know, all
those things, like it's just, it, it feels scripted. Like it's,
it's too, it's too.
Crazy, and it was just awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas is the name of the EP.
It is out now. It's not just Where Are You Christmas.
There are 5 other original Christmas songs on the album.
I think a lot of people will relate to, uh,
Christmas is Killing me, uh, about the craziness of the holidays,
and I just want to mention how much I love
the final line. Someone stop Mariah Carey.
(10:14):
Because it works on a couple of different levels. If
you're talking about the, the craziness of Christmas, of course,
that's the obvious song to have some fun with, but also,
I don't know how many people are aware that Mariah
co-wrote Where Are You Christmas, so it also feels like
a bit of a tip of the cap to Mariah
on that,
Speaker 2 (10:30):
uh, it totally is. And first of all, love Mariah,
you know, all this whole record's done with a wink
and a smile and some tongue in cheekness, you know,
love Mariah. But you know, I felt like Christmas needed
a little bit of a reboot, like, you know.
We, we need a little freshness for the holiday.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
We don't get a whole lot of rock and roll
Christmas albums, but we got this one, and it's a
ton of fun. Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas. Thanks so
much for the time.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Thank you so much for having me. Happy
Speaker 1 (10:54):
holidays. I'm Drew Savage. You can find me on Instagram
at Drew Savage on air. If you enjoyed this conversation
with Taylor, please leave us a rating and review. It
does help other people find the show. And don't forget
to hit subscribe before you go, so you never miss
a story behind the Christmas hits.
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My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
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