Brenda Lee Gushes Over 65-Year-Old Hit As It Lands Top Spot On Billboard Hot 100 Chart

In 1958, the exceptionally talented American singer Brenda Lee immortalized the holiday spirit with her recording of the enduring classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Over the decades, this iconic song has transcended its origins, evolving into a cultural phenomenon. Its timeless melody has found a place in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials, solidifying its position as a beloved symbol of festive music.

Fast forward six and a half decades from its initial release, and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” recently achieved a remarkable milestone by claiming the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Building on this recent achievement, Scott Detrow, the weekend host of NPR’s afternoon news magazine, All Things Considered, treated listeners to a festive journey. During an episode of the show, Detrow shared an engaging interview with the legendary singer.

Brenda Lee says “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is a timeless classic

While responding to Detrow’s inquiry about the newfound success of her song, Lee expressed astonishment, conveying disbelief that it could attain such remarkable accomplishments. “Well, you know what? That is still not connecting with my brain. I’m just so thrilled for the writer. I was very close to the writer, Johnny Marks, and I wish he was here to witness all this,” she told the host. “But it’s a great song. It’s a wonderful song, and, Lord, has it been good to me. I never thought that a Christmas song would be my signature song. But it is, and I’m proud of it.”

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She also discussed the lasting impact of the track, emphasizing its enduring quality and its ability to resonate with people across the years, despite being recorded early in her career. “It still feels pretty surreal. It really does,” Lee explained. “And when I say that, people say, ‘Oh, Brenda, good Lord. That thing came out when you were 12 or 13 or however old you were.’ I said, ‘But you know what? It never gets old.'”

She talks about the making of the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

The 79-year-old detailed the process of making the hit song. She revealed that the production was very smooth. “Well, I remember that my great producer, Owen Bradley — he had the air conditioning turned to zero because we recorded it, of course, in the summer,” the Grammy Winner recalled. “And he had a Christmas tree up, and we just had a great time doing it. You know, good songs are easy to do, and I think we did that one maybe in one rehearsal and one take.”

Also, responding to a question on whether she has had a conversation with Mariah Carey, whose song has, over the years, consecutively landed on the number 1 spot, Lee replied in the negative while expressing her admiration for her counterpart. “No, but I’d love to. I love Mariah. I’m a big fan,” she confessed. “Her Christmas song is great. You know, there’s room for all of us. If it’s good, it’s everything.”