Brenda Lee’s record-breaking holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the second week. Lee broke several chart records when the song went to No. 1 65 years after its release. The news came yesterday (December 11) as Lee celebrated her 79th birthday.
Lee shared her excitement about the song’s second week at No. 1 in a press release. “A second week at No. 1—this is surreal,” she said. “As I celebrate this with my fans and everyone who had supported me over the years, I really wish I could celebrate it with Johnny Marks, who wrote the song, and Owen Bradley who brilliantly produced ‘Rockin’.’”
Videos by American Songwriter
[RELATED: Brenda Lee Reflects on Her History-Making No. 1 Hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”]
Marks was a master of Christmas music. He wrote some of the most enduring holiday songs in history. He penned “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Silver and Gold,” “I Heard Bells on Christmas Day,” and “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year” among others. Interestingly, Marks was Jewish and didn’t celebrate Christmas. However, according to Groovy History, he wanted to write positive songs that would bring people together while reaching the widest audience possible.
In the release, Lee added, “The song has stood the test of time and I am so grateful that this has become my signature song.”
Brenda Lee’s Record-Breaking No. 1 Holiday Hit
Lee broke several chart records when “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” went to No. 1. For instance, it took longer to reach the top of the chart than any other song in history. This also gave Lee the longest span of time between No. 1 singles. It had been 63 years, one month, and two weeks since her last chart-topper. Additionally, it gave her the longest stint between her first and latest No. 1. She landed her first song at the top of the survey 63 years and four months ago. Lee is also the oldest artist to top the Hot 100. She was 78 years young when the song topped the chart last week.
Featured Image by Alexa King Stone
Most Viewed
-
Huty23631 0001 -
UNSPECIFIED – SEPTEMBER 01: Photo of Raspberries (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
UNITED STATES – DECEMBER 04: Photo of Emmylou Harris, December 4, 1979, California, North Hollywood, Palomino Club, Emmylou Harris. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
American singer, songwriter and pianist, Ray Charles (1930 – 2004) performing at the Olympia in Paris, France on May 18, 1962. (Photo by REPORTERS ASSOCIES/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) -
English rock and pop group The Hollies perform the song 'Sorry Suzanne' on the set of the BBC Television pop music television show Top Of The Pops at Lime Grove Studios in London on 27th March 1969. Members of the band are, from left, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester and Bernie Calvert. (Photo by Ivan Keeman/Redferns) -
LAS VEGAS – APRIL 06: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn perform "The Cowboy Rides Away' onstage during the 44th annual Academy Of Country Music Awards' Artist of the Decade held at the MGM Grand on April 6, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ACM2009/Getty Images for ACM) -
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Lloyd Maines performs onstage during "Austin City Limits Celebrates 50 Years: A Special Anniversary Taping" of the long-running music series "Austin City Limits" at ACL Live on November 21, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)
