65 years after its release, Brenda Lee’s holiday hit, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” made a comeback with a music video and is now at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song has earned Brenda the title of the oldest woman in history to lead the music chart.
Last year, Brenda’s cover of Johnny Mark’s original was the highest-streamed Christmas song, having over 240 million streams, and it was certified 5x platinum by the RIAA. Brenda recorded the song in 1958 as a 13-year-old, and it has since become a Christmas favorite in households.
Brenda Lee the oldest woman to top Billboard Hot 100 charts
The Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Famer beat Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which claimed the number three spot on the chart. “This is amazing! I cannot believe that ‘Rockin’ has hit No. 1 65 years after it was released, this is just so special,” Lee said in a statement. She also surpassed Cher, who released her debut Christmas album in October.
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The revival video of Brenda’s classic featured her in a red dress and singing in front of a tinsel-covered tree. Country singers Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood collaborated with Brenda, who expressed her gratitude to them and the team at Universal Music Group Nashville, who “worked so hard to celebrate the song’s anniversary this year.”
Brenda’s best gift
While appreciating her fans — old and new — Brenda regarded the support she has gotten so far as “one of the best gifts I have ever received.”
“The song came out when I was a young teenager and now to know that it has resonated with multiple generations and continues to resonate. Keep on Rockin’ and Merry Christmas,” she said.
The music video release also came with an accompanying EP, A Rockin’ Christmas with Brenda Lee, which features a collection of favorites like “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “A Marshmallow World” and, of course, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.” Keeping up the momentum, Brenda will perform at the upcoming two-hour NBC special, “Christmas at the Opry,” hosted by Wynonna Judd at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.