Taylor Momsen, best remembered by many as Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is revisiting the song that first made her voice familiar to millions. Now the lead singer of the rock band The Pretty Reckless, Momsen has released a powerful new version of Where Are You Christmas?, the heartfelt ballad she performed in the 2000 holiday film. The updated recording marks a full-circle moment that blends her Hollywood past with the musical career that has defined her adult life.
The new version, released October 10, opens with the gentle sound of Momsen’s childhood voice before expanding into a full-band performance that showcases her transformation from the innocent child star to an acclaimed rock vocalist. It’s both nostalgic and new, preserving the emotion of the original while revealing the power and maturity in her voice today.
For many who remember her as the wide-eyed child who helped the Grinch discover the meaning of Christmas, the release offers a rare moment of reflection. Momsen has since built an entirely different career as a musician. After stepping away from acting, she formed The Pretty Reckless in 2009, earning critical and commercial success with hits like Make Me Wanna Die and Heaven Knows. The group has topped rock charts, toured internationally, and gained a devoted fan base drawn to Momsen’s commanding vocals and honest songwriting.
In discussing the new version, Momsen described the process as deeply meaningful. Speaking with Consequence, she shared, “Revisiting Where Are You Christmas? 25 years later feels like coming home to a part of myself I hadn’t seen in a long time. Recording it now, with all the life I’ve lived in between, I hear it through a different lens—but the heart of it is the same. It’s about wonder, hope, and holding on to the magic.”
That sentiment has echoed across several outlets. In a feature by Kerrang!, the publication highlighted how the track “brings together two eras of Momsen’s life,” noting that she “duets with her seven-year-old self” to bridge innocence and experience. Revolver described the new version as “a conversation between who she was and who she’s become.”
Momsen also reflected on her first time recording the original song more than two decades ago, recalling how the experience would ultimately inspire her move into music. “The thing that I remember the most was the first time that I went into a recording studio, putting headphones on and singing Where Are You Christmas?. That was such an impactful moment—it made me go, ‘I wanna make music for the rest of my life.’”
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Momsen added that revisiting the song now “feels like coming home,” explaining that the new version captures the same sense of emotion she felt as a child, only seen through the lens of her years as a performer and songwriter.
The updated recording also serves as the lead single for Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, a holiday EP arriving October 31 on digital platforms with physical editions coming November 14. The project includes six tracks: the reimagined Where Are You Christmas?, another song inspired by The Grinch, and several original holiday recordings that blend the band’s rock sound with classic seasonal themes.
For audiences who grew up watching Momsen in the film that made her a household name, this release feels like a warm reunion with a familiar voice that has grown and evolved over time. It’s a rare case of an artist revisiting their past without nostalgia overwhelming the art itself. Instead, it’s a reflection on time, growth, and creativity coming full circle.
With Where Are You Christmas? now reborn through The Pretty Reckless, Taylor Momsen reminds listeners that while years may pass and roles may change, the heart of a song—and the feeling it brings—can still shine just as bright.
