Eartha Kitt’s Daughter Receives a Touching Surprise from the Writer of ‘Santa Baby,’ a Song Cherished by Her Mother

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NEED TO KNOW

• Eartha Kitt’s daughter, Kitt Shapiro, recently met the co-writer of the Christmas song her mother popularized, “Santa Baby.”
• The song, originally released in 1953, was co-written by Joan Javits and performed by Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra.
• Shapiro connected with Javits during a surprise visit to her clothing boutique in Westport, Conn.

Eartha Kitt’s daughter, Kitt Shapiro, recently experienced an emotional reunion with Joan Javits, the co-writer of the iconic Christmas song “Santa Baby,” which her mother famously performed.

The song, co-written by Javits and released in 1953, has become a staple of holiday music. Shapiro, who authored the 2021 memoir Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black & White, shared that she met Javits while working at her boutique in Westport, Connecticut.

“It was such a funny thing,” Shapiro, 59, recalled. She mentioned that a local news segment about her store had drawn attention. “I was just standing in the store when this woman came in with an older woman and said, ‘I have a Christmas present for you.’ I was like, ‘What?’ and then she introduced her mother, Joan Javits, who wrote ‘Santa Baby.’

Shapiro previously met the song’s composer, Phil Springer, but said the encounter with Javits was unexpectedly sentimental. “I literally broke down. Tears were in my eyes,” she said, noting that Javits grew up in Westport.

Reflecting on the seemingly missed connections between her mother and Javits, Shapiro added, “My mother lived just three minutes away. It was such a moment. The only thing that would have made it more special is if ‘Santa Baby’ had played while we were together.”

Shapiro described meeting Javits as “an incredible feeling,” reminiscent of completing a full circle. She emphasized that “Santa Baby” was specifically written for her mother’s voice.

Shapiro elaborated on the song’s provocative nature at the time of its release. “It was very risqué. The album art featured my mother in a way that raised eyebrows, prompting RCA to add a painted bra strap later on,” she noted. “The song includes many double entendres and a flirtatious tone that was groundbreaking for a woman of color in that era.”

Eartha Kitt & daughter Kitt Shapiro.

Theo Wargo/WireImage

Shapiro is also managing her mother’s estate and mentioned that discussions are underway for a potential biopic about Eartha Kitt. “We are in very preliminary talks, but yes,” she confirmed, noting her mother’s enduring impact on younger generations. “It feels like my mother is very present.”

Tragically, Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas Day in 2008 from colon cancer at age 81. Shapiro reflects on the poetic timing of her mother’s death, given her legacy tied to “Santa Baby.” “She knew the importance of timing,” Shapiro remarked, adding with a laugh, “and in a way, it was poetic.”