Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ tops charts 65 years after release

Jordan Unger
·2 min read
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(WJW) — You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear … Brenda Lee’s 65-year-old holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.

The 78-year-old singer breaks multiple records with the latest ranking, which, according to reports from Billboard, became the third holiday song to ever hold the top spot, following “The Chipmunk Song” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

Country and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee performs at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the CMA Theater on December 9, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Country and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee performs at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the CMA Theater on December 9, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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As reported by People, Lee was only 13 years old when she recorded the 1958 classic. Now, she’s the oldest artist to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

It’s also the longest a song has waited to top the charts in Billboard Hot 100 history since it was first released, according to reports.

It’s Lee’s third No. 1 song in her career and the first since 1960, when the then-child singer’s hits “I’m Sorry” and “I Want To Be Wanted” both charted, according to Billboard.

The top ranking comes after the first-ever music video for “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was released on Nov. 3 this year. So far, the video has more than 3.35 million views on YouTube.

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Monday, Lee shared on Facebook that the song is also topping charts on Spotify.

The Atlanta singer was inducted into the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Her introduction on the Rock Hall’s website reads, “Singers like Brenda Lee are born, not made. Which isn’t to say that Brenda Lee didn’t work hard — you don’t get the Beatles as your opening act by resting on your laurels.”

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