Big Trouble!! Alexandra Breckenridge confirms she played guitar, not vocals, in My Secret Santa’s show-stopping musical finale
For weeks after Netflix’s festive rom-com My Secret Santa premiered, one question echoed across fan forums, social media threads, and comment sections everywhere
: Was that really Alexandra Breckenridge singing on stage? The climactic musical moment—equal parts romantic payoff and holiday spectacle—
quickly became one of the film’s most talked-about scenes. Now, the truth is finally out, and Breckenridge is pulling back the curtain on what really happened behind the scenes.
Best known to millions as Mel Monroe on Virgin River, Breckenridge has built a reputation for emotionally grounded performances and warm, relatable characters. So when her My Secret Santa character, Taylor Jacobson, stunned audiences by leaping onstage with a guitar and ripping into Chuck Berry’s high-energy classic “Run Rudolph Run,” many viewers assumed the actress had revealed a hidden rock-star side. The performance was confident, electric, and surprisingly raw—exactly the kind of moment that makes a holiday movie unforgettable.
But as Breckenridge has now confirmed, the vocals that lit up that stage were not her own.
The Scene That Stole the Movie
The musical finale of My Secret Santa arrives at a pivotal emotional crossroads. Taylor Jacobson, having spent much of the film guarded and uncertain, finally steps fully into herself. The stage becomes a metaphor—not just for performance, but for vulnerability. It’s the moment where she stops hiding behind polite smiles and careful choices and instead declares who she is, loudly and unapologetically.
That’s why the scene resonated so strongly with audiences. It wasn’t just about the song; it was about courage, release, and self-acceptance. Taylor’s leap onto the stage felt spontaneous and brave, a joyful rebellion against fear. For many viewers, it was the emotional exclamation point the story had been building toward.
Naturally, fans wanted to know if Breckenridge herself had delivered those gritty, confident vocals.
“It’s Not My Voice”
Speaking candidly to Us Weekly, Breckenridge finally put the speculation to rest.
“It’s not my voice,” she admitted, laughing at how persistent the question had become. While the revelation surprised some fans, Breckenridge was quick to emphasize that the decision wasn’t about lack of talent—it was about fear.
She confessed that she nearly sang the song herself, but the idea of performing vocally for the film terrified her more than almost anything else she’d done onscreen. In her words, the thought scared her “more than playing Santa Claus,” a humorous nod to the sometimes absurd challenges actors face in holiday films.
Singing live—or even recording vocals meant for public consumption—felt like crossing a personal boundary. Despite years of experience in front of the camera, Breckenridge described herself as a “nervous wreck” in the lead-up to the scene.
A Performance Still Rooted in Reality
While the vocals belonged to a professional singer, Breckenridge insists the moment was far from artificial. In fact, one key detail fans did notice correctly: the guitar playing was entirely real.
Breckenridge dusted off her guitar skills for the role, drawing on years-old experience from her youth. Relearning the instrument wasn’t easy, especially given the demanding nature of Chuck Berry’s signature style. “Run Rudolph Run” requires quick chord changes, extended hand stretches, and relentless rhythm—hard enough under ideal conditions.
Unfortunately, the conditions were anything but ideal.
Freezing Temperatures and Frozen Fingers
The scene was filmed in Kamloops, British Columbia, where winter weather proved to be an unexpected adversary. Breckenridge revealed that the cold was so intense she could barely move her fingers while playing.
“I think I almost got frostbite,” she joked, describing how numb her hands became during filming. The stiffness made the already challenging guitar work even more difficult, turning each take into a test of endurance.
Yet those struggles never show onscreen. The performance appears effortless, a testament not only to careful preparation but to Breckenridge’s commitment to authenticity. Even knowing the vocals would be dubbed later, she treated the moment with seriousness and respect, fully inhabiting Taylor’s emotional state.
Why the Musical Moment Mattered So Much
For Breckenridge, the pressure surrounding the scene wasn’t just technical—it was emotional. She described the musical finale as “very important” to both her performance and the film as a whole.
In many holiday rom-coms, big final gestures can feel formulaic. But My Secret Santa aimed for something more personal. Taylor’s performance wasn’t about impressing a crowd; it was about reclaiming joy and confidence after a journey marked by doubt and guardedness.
Breckenridge understood that if the scene didn’t land emotionally, the entire arc of the character could feel unearned. That responsibility weighed heavily on her, adding to her nerves but also sharpening her focus.
The Magic of Movie Illusion
Ultimately, the decision to use a vocal double was about serving the story, not diminishing the performance. Film has always been a collaborative medium, and Breckenridge embraces that truth wholeheartedly.
The powerhouse vocals, paired with her convincing lip-syncing and genuine guitar work, created a seamless illusion—one that allowed the emotional truth of the scene to shine through. For Breckenridge, the goal was never to showcase her own singing ability, but to ensure the audience felt Taylor’s transformation.
Judging by the fan reaction, the approach worked.
A Familiar Theme for Virgin River Fans
For longtime Virgin River viewers, Breckenridge’s honesty about fear, vulnerability, and emotional stakes feels strikingly familiar. Much like Mel Monroe, Taylor Jacobson is a woman navigating self-doubt while learning to step into her own strength.
That thematic overlap may be why fans connected so deeply with the musical moment. It wasn’t just a holiday gimmick—it echoed the emotional authenticity Breckenridge brings to all her roles.
The Final Note
So while Alexandra Breckenridge may not have sung “Run Rudolph Run” herself, her fingerprints are all over the performance. From the real guitar playing to the emotional weight she carried into every frame, the moment remains undeniably hers.
In revealing the truth behind My Secret Santa’s most iconic scene, Breckenridge hasn’t shattered the magic—she’s enhanced it. The revelation serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful performances come not from doing everything yourself, but from knowing when to lean on collaboration to tell the best possible story.