Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Hits #1 on Billboard Hot 100 After 65 Years
It’s official – Brenda Lee has once again proven herself as the reigning Queen of Christmas. 65 years after its initial recording, Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has returned to the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, solidifying its status as a holiday classic.
At 78 years old, Lee becomes the oldest person to ever top the chart, breaking records previously held by artists like Louis Armstrong. This achievement comes after decades of success for the singer, who was just 13 when she recorded the timeless Christmas tune.
In celebration of the song’s 65th anniversary, Lee has been actively promoting it through various means, including her debut on Tik Tok and the release of the song’s first-ever music video which features cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.
Despite the long wait, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has finally secured the #1 spot, making Lee the third holiday artist to achieve this honor alongside The Chipmunks and Mariah Carey.
This chart-topping success also marks Lee’s third #1 hit on the Hot 100, following her 1960 hits “I’m Sorry” and “I Want To Be Wanted.” With this latest milestone, Lee has set a number of Billboard chart records, including the longest wait for a song’s release to reach #1 and the longest span between an artist’s #1 hits.
As Lee celebrates her latest achievements, fellow artist Cher also has some good holiday news, with her song “DJ Play a Christmas Song” from her first-ever holiday album “Christmas” reaching #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart.