Buddy Holly recorded the vocal, accompanying himself on guitar, on December 8, 1958, in apartment 4H of "The Brevoort" on New York City's Fifth Avenue.

In 1964, Holly's former producer Norman Petty recorded an alternate version of the song, with new instrumentals (by The Fireballs) but without backup singers.

The studio recording sessions and overdubs for "Peggy Sue Got Married" were similar to those for the posthumous track "Crying, Waiting, Hoping".

Buddy Holly's original, undubbed home recording was used as theme music in the film Peggy Sue Got Married.

[1] David Box, a native of Lubbock, Texas, and a Buddy Holly soundalike, joined the group as lead vocalist for this version of "Peggy Sue Got Married" which was released in the United States as the B-side of Coral 62238 in 1960.