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Brenda Lee Makes History Once Again On Her 79th Birthday

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

For the second week in a row, Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” tops the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Last week, the song made history 65 years after its debut and became Lee’s third Hot 100 No. 1 and her first since 1960. Today’s news came as Lee was celebrating her 79th birthday.

Brenda said, “A second week at No. 1 – this is so surreal! As I celebrate this with my fans and everyone who has supported me over the years, I really wish I could celebrate with Johnny Marks, who wrote the song, and Owen Bradley, who brilliantly produced ‘Rockin’.'”

She added, “The song has truly stood the test of time, and I am so grateful that this has become my signature song. As I always say, Keep on Rockin’!”

Johnny Marks died in 1975 at the age of 75. Owen Bradley died at the age of 82 in 1998.

For the song’s 65th anniversary this year, Lee released the first-ever music video for “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” featuring cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.

RELATED: Five Of Dolly Parton’s Very Best Christmas Songs

Last Monday (12/4), Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever.

By hitting the No.1 spot, Lee broke several records. Many of those records were held by Mariah Carey and “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which Lee beat out for the top spot. Lee claims just the third holiday No.1 ever on the Hot 100.

After hearing the news, Lee said, “This is amazing! I cannot believe that ‘Rockin” has hit No. 1 65 years after its release; this is just so special! Thank you to the team at UMG/UMe, who worked so hard to celebrate the song’s anniversary this year. But most importantly, thank you to the fans who keep listening.”

She added, “The song came out when I was a young teenager.  And now, to know that it has resonated with multiple generations and continues to resonate – it is one of the best gifts I have ever received. Keep on Rockin’ and Merry Christmas!”

Top Five Country Christmas Songs Of All Time

  • 5. Carrie Underwood - "Little Drummer Boy"

    With a cameo by her young son Isaiah singing adorably on this classic remake, it is no wonder this has quickly become a holiday favorite and makes his famous mom proud.

    Underwood is playing shows and has added Christmas song to her Las Vegas residency which she wraps up next week (12/16).

    Carrie told us recently about decorating early for Christmas this year (2023), “There’s nothing sadder than a Christmas tree up with no presents underneath it, so I don’t really think that you want to get your Christmas tree up too early, but this year, I was a little earlier than normal because we had Thanksgiving and then head out to Vegas for my Reflection shows, and I had to get everything up before I left.”

  • 4. Gwen Stefani (Featuring Blake Shelton) - "You Make It Feel Like Christmas"

    A wonderful song that puts you right into the holiday spirit. Gwen and Blake do this song beautifully together and seem to have fun with every word they sing.

    On the footnote version of the title song’s music video, Stefani said, “The idea of getting to be a part of people’s holidays through music is one of the greatest gifts. Christmas music lives forever.”

    She also noted in the video footnotes that the video idea was inspired by the 1960s TV show Bewitched, a show both of them loved as kids. Gwen and Blake co-wrote the song “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.”

  • 3. Brad Paisley - "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy"

    This is an excellent take on the 1960s original Christmas song by country music icon Buck Owens. Brad does this to perfection honoring his late friend. Garth Brooks also covered this song on his first Christmas album, Beyond The Season.

  • 2. Dolly Parton - "Hard Candy Christmas"

    Not initially known as or written as a Christmas song, this song comes from the soundtrack of Dolly Parton’s 1982 movie Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. The song has become a classic and has been covered by many after Dolly, including her friend Reba.

  • 1. Brenda Lee - "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

    Possibly one of the best holiday songs in any genre; not a year goes by that we don’t spin this record on repeat. In 2023, sixty-five years after its first release to radio, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever.

    By hitting the No.1 spot, Brenda Lee breaks several records. Many of those records were held by Mariah Carey and “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which Lee beat out for the top spot.

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group
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