Brenda Lee made history as her timeless holiday classic, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement comes an astonishing 65 years after the song’s initial release.
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Lee, fondly nicknamed “Little Miss Dynamite” for her spirited nature and powerful voice since childhood, recorded “Rockin'” at the tender age of 13. Now, at 78, she witnesses the song’s ascent to No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre chart, courtesy of major label UMG Nashville. This marks the third time a holiday song has ever reached the Hot 100 summit.
“I like that God has given me that favor that I can stand aside and look and know that it wasn’t just me; that it’s a conglomerate of a lot of people that made the song what it is,” Lee shares with Billboard, seated in the downtown offices of UMG Nashville.
Produced by Owen Bradley and first released in 1958, “Rockin'” had a modest chart impact initially. Lee had earlier secured two No. 1 Hot 100 hits in 1960 with “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to Be Wanted.” Buoyed by these successes, “Rockin’” reached No. 14 in December 1960. In recent years, it spent nine weeks at No. 2 on the Hot 100, following Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
“Rockin’” became iconic with Lee’s mature voice blending seamlessly with its rockabilly holiday vibe, making it her signature song. Johnny Marks, the songwriter behind other holiday classics, penned “Rockin’” specifically for Lee, even though he didn’t celebrate Christmas.
In 1990, “Rockin’” gained new life in the movie Home Alone, becoming a holiday favorite for a new generation. Lee describes this as the catalyst that pushed it “over that hill.”
To celebrate the 65th anniversary, Lee created the first official video for “Rockin’,” featuring appearances by Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood. The festive video showcases Lee lip-synching to her teenage recording, interspersed with scenes of baking cookies and holiday feasting.
“My buds are in there,” Lee exclaims. “We had a ball making it. We filmed it at the producer’s house, and nothing was choreographed, really. We just had fun. They were just precious to do that for me, and I think folks will love it.”
Reflecting on her favorite holiday hits, Lee shares, “I love to hear ‘White Christmas’ and love to hear Bing Crosby sing. I also love Burl Ives’ ‘A Holly Jolly Christmas.'”
Brenda Lee’s triumph is a heartening reminder of the enduring magic of holiday classics, bringing joy across generations.
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