Despite its debut being back in 1958, Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee just topped the charts with her holiday hit, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” for the very first time, dethroning “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by the queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, for the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” Breaks Records Held By CHER and Mariah Carey
Although the song has been available to stream for 65 years, and has been certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” made history by hitting the number one spot on Billboard Hot 100 this week, breaking numerous records that were held by Mariah Carey and her Christmas classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” beforehand.
With this recognition, the 78-year-old claims the third holiday hit to ever reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, after “The Chipmunk Song” by The Chipmunks with David Seville and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, ultimately beating out the latter this week, which has ruled the charts every winter since 2019.
In addition to this, Lee now holds the record for the longest gap between an artist’s first and most recent week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with 63 years, given the fact that her first chart-topping single was “I’m Sorry” back in 1960. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” also holds the record for the longest length of time to climb to the number one spot in the Billboard Hot 100, due to the fact that the song was released 65 years ago, when Lee was just 13 years old.
Now, at almost 79 years old, the Georgia native is also the oldest woman to top the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing stars like Cher and Mariah Carey.
Brenda Lee Reacts to success of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”
Brenda Lee expressed her excitement for “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” finally getting the recognition it deserves, gushing in a statement, “This is amazing! I cannot believe that ‘Rockin’ [Around The Christmas Tree]’ has hit number one, 65 years after it was released. This is just so special!”
She continued passionately, “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. 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!”
Releases first ever music video for The Song in honor of its 65th anniversary
Recognizing “the team at UMG/UMe who worked so hard to celebrate the song’s anniversary this year” in the statement, the 2009 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award-winner is referring to the release of the first ever music video for “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” which she put out via YouTube on November 3 in honor of the song’s 65th anniversary, featuring cameos from country superstars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.
Since its release, the music video has garnered a whopping 3.2 million views, and the number keeps rising day after day as Christmas nears.
New EP, A Rockin’ Chirstmas With Brenda Lee
In addition to debuting the official music video for the track, Brenda Lee also released a new six-song EP, A Rockin’ Christmas With Brenda Lee. The project includes her favorite holiday tunes, including “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock” “A Marshmallow World” as well as a new reimagined version of her iconic hit, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” by Filous.
As for the future of the Christmas classic, Brenda Lee plans to perform “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” on the television special “Christmas at the Opry,” which airs Thursday (December 7) at 8pm ET/PT on NBC, with next-day streaming via Peacock. Beyond that, only time will tell what the future holds, as well as what other tricks the songstress has up her sleeve.
