A couple of milestones for Brenda Lee came in Dec. 1958: her 14th birthday and the first holiday season with her Decca Records single "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" on living room turntables.
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By the '60s, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" had benefitted from the rising popularity of Lee (AKA Little Miss Dynamite) with country music and rockabilly audiences. But by no means was the song a short-term pop sensation. Instead, it's as evergreen as Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," Burl Ives' "A Holly Jolly Christmas," Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock," Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You."
Other pop culture happenings over the years, from the success of Lee's 1960 hit "I'm Sorry" to the soundtrack of the 1990 comedy film "Home Alone," solidified the song as a permanent part of the "new old-fashioned way." In the 21st century, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is a lock for Billboard's annual list of the most popular Christmas songs. Going into 2022, it peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 three years running, putting a classic Christmas song in the same stratosphere as the global hits of Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Post Malone. In 2023, it finally reached No. 1 after 65 years, breaking multiple records.
The Story Behind "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
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Johnny Marks, the songwriter of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," penned "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and had Lee in mind as its singer. She had previous Christmas music experience via novelty sides "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus" and "Christy Christmas." In 1964, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" anchored the album Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee.
When she was 13 years old, Lee recorded the song with producer Owen Bradley and several of Nashville's A-Team session players, such as guitarists Hank Garland and Grady Martin, sax legend Boots Randolph and the Anita Kerr Singers.
Though it wasn't an overnight success, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" became the sort of perennial holiday favorite that makes it a must for playlists this time of the year (and Lee's set list regardless of the season). Not that Lee's complaining about having to sing a Christmas classic in July.
"I'm proud. I'm overwhelmed. I'm grateful," she told the Tennessean in 2021. "All the adjectives that you could put with that. I always thought 'I'm Sorry' would be my signature song. And it's one of 'em. But it's 'Rockin'.' Whenever anybody thinks of Brenda Lee now, it's 'Rockin'."
A 65-Year Climb to No. 1
Alexa King Stone
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" made history on Dec. 4, 2023 by reaching No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. It took 65 years for the song to reach the pinnacle of a chart that also debuted in 1958. It's the third pop No. 1 of Lee's career, following two songs from 1960, "I'm Sorry" and "I Want to Be Wanted." The 63-year gap in between Lee's first and most recent No. 1 is the longest in history. Lastly, Lee, who turned 79 on Dec. 11, 2023, surpassed Cher ("Believe," age 52) and Carey ("All I Want for Christmas is You," age 53) as the oldest woman with a No. 1 pop song.
"This is amazing. I cannot believe that 'Rockin'' has hit No. 1 65 years after it was released, this is just so special," Lee shared in a press release. "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!"
It's just the third Christmas song to reach No. 1 in the chart's 65-year history. Alvin and the Chipmunk's "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" did it first in 1958, and Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" has had four separate runs as No. 1 over the years.
A Music Video Decades in the Making
Alexa King Stone
UMG's (Universal Music Group) celebration of the song's 65th anniversary includes the first-ever "Rockin'" music video, featuring Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.
"My buds are in there," Lee told Billboard about the video. "We had a ball making it. We filmed it at the producer's house, and nothing was choreographed, really. We just had fun. They were just precious to do that for me, and I think folks will love it."
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Lyrics
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie
And we'll do some caroling
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let's be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin' merrily
In the new old-fashioned way
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let's be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin' around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin' merrily
In the new old-fashioned way
This story previously ran on Dec. 13, 2022. It was updated on Dec. 13, 2023.
