Brenda Lee gave us one of the timeless holiday classics with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, and she’s finally getting credit where credit is due! This song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart 65 years after its release, making Lee the oldest person to hit No. 1 on this US chart.
Brenda Lee was only 13 years old when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, but that didn’t stop this holiday anthem from becoming an instant classic. The song was originally released in 1958, but it experienced renewed popularity in recent years, especially after Lee agreed to film a new music video this November.
After occupying the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the past four years, behind “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, Lee’s smash hit finally climbed to No. 1 this week. The veteran singer set several Hot 100 records along the way, becoming the oldest artist to top the chart at 78.
Lee discussed her success with Variety, and credited her team and her fans for helping “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” reach new heights.
“I have wonderful, wonderful fans that have been with me from the first time I opened my mouth to sing, and they’ve stayed with me, and everybody’s been loyal, and I’m more happy for them than I am for me. You can’t keep a good song down,” she told Variety.
