Brenda Lee made last year’s Christmas much better with the music video of her 1958 classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” which, even without a true music video until last year, was an essential holiday music. The song overtook Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” to top the Billboard chart.
A year later, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” has gone beyond 1 billion streams on just Spotify, making it the only holiday song by a female country artist to cross that mark. The news came just in time for Brenda’s 80th birthday, which was on December 11.
Brenda Lee reacts to ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ setting another massive record
“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” which Brenda recorded at 13, is set to overthrow Mariah Crey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” yet again. Brenda reacted to news of her whopping Spotify streams, saying she was dumbfounded.
The 80-year-old never expected her song to be so successful nearly seven decades later. The classic remains the second-highest certified Christmas title, with Mariah’s holiday bop maintaining number one status. The Recording Industry Association of America honored Brenda for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, which went platinum seven times, and it sold over 7 million copies.
Brenda Lee turns 80 amid career highlights
Brenda was excited about her birthday this year, noting that her record label would be throwing her a party. She discussed her latest career highlights, noting that she would have continued making music even if it did not fetch her fame or riches.
PBS will be celebrating Brenda and her hit song on December 16, with the American Masters -Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around documentary premiering by 10 pm that night. Next comes Brenda’s Christmas celebration with family, who will gather around her green Christmas tree adorned with ornaments from old times.
