Brenda Lee Gets Her Flowers For Her Enduring Christmas Classic [Interview]

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Brenda Lee performs on Christmas at the Opry. Photo: Allen Clark/NBC

Rock & Roll Hall and Country Music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee is celebrating the 65th anniversary of her iconic holiday hit “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” this year.

Written by Johnny Marks, Lee’s label Decca Records released the hit when she was only 13 years old. Now, 65 years later, it has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever, causing Lee to break several records, many of which were held by Mariah Carey and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” With the feat, “Rockin'” is only the third holiday song to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.

 

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Lee recently spoke to MusicRow about the staying power of the song and her experience as its shepherd.

“I never thought a Christmas song would be my signature song,” she says. Lee shares that she loved Marks’ song as soon as she heard it, noting that it wasn’t like other Christmas songs. She says Owen Bradley‘s swanky production of the track gave it its cool-factor, making it stand out from other holiday tunes.

“The first time I heard it, I really did love it. The funny thing about it is that Johnny Marks was Jewish, and the only thing that would come out of his body was Christmas songs!” Lee quips. “I said to him once, ‘Johnny, what does that mean?'”

Lee says that though “Rockin'” was always a fan favorite, its prevalent use on the 1990 Home Alone film pushed it into the zeitgeist.

“I remember the first phone call I got [about it]. They said, ‘Brenda, did you know your song is in Home Alone?’ I was like, ‘What is Home Alone?’ That’s when I knew it might just be something.”

Brenda Lee. Photo: Alexa King Stone

And she was right. “Rockin'” has endured the test of time. Now that it has topped the Hot 100 chart, the song has made Lee the record-holder for the longest gap between an artist’s first and most recent week at No.1 on the Hot 100, as her first No. 1 was her single “I’m Sorry” in 1960, 63 years ago. Now, at almost 79-years-old, Lee is also the oldest woman to top the Hot 100, surpassing previous record-holders Cher (“Believe,” age 52) and Carey (“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” age 53).

Recently, UMG Nashville presented Lee with a special plaque signifying its five-time Platinum certification.

Lee says that even at a show in the middle of June, she has to play it. But she is grateful that it has impacted generations of fans.

To celebrate the 65th anniversary of “Rockin’,” Lee made a music video for the tune featuring cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood. She also released a new EP, A Rockin’ Christmas with Brenda Lee, featuring the hit and other holiday favorites including “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “A Marshmallow World” and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” reimagined by Filous.

She also performed the hit on the NBC television special Christmas at the Opry, which aired yesterday (Dec. 7) and is streaming today on Peacock.

“It’s my time of year,” Lee quips. “That’s the thing about a Christmas song if it ever gets to be a hit.”

When reflecting on the success of “Rockin'” 65 years later, Lee says, “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!”

LB Cantrell
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