Current:Home > reviewsChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -FutureWise Finance
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
View
Date:2025-04-15 14:10:31
Mariah Carey may have a bit of competition for that queen of Christmas crown, and her name is Brenda Lee.
Lee's holiday staple "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week, overtaking Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You," which usually sits comfortably at the top all season long. While Lee may have overtaken Carey to hit the top, Lee says the pop diva sent her the sweetest note.
Lee, 78, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the songstress sent flowers to her with congratulations for hitting the No. 1 slot.
Lee's last No. 1 hit was more than 60 years ago, with her hit "I'm Sorry" in 1960.
Here's a look at the resurgence of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and what Lee has achieved with it.
Brenda Lee breaks records with 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'
Getting to the top spot on the Billboard once again breaks several records — many of which were held by Carey's almost three-decade-old "All I Want for Christmas Is You".
Lee beat out Louis Armstrong's record of the oldest person to top the chart. Armstrong held the record when "Hello, Dolly" hit No. 1 in 1964. He was 62 at the time.
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" is only the third holiday No. 1 ever on the Hot 100.
Brenda Lee's 'Rockin' Around the Christma Tree' at Christmas at the Opry
Lee took her chart-topping hit to the Grand Ole Opry for Christmas at the Opry on Wednesday.
The singer spread some holiday cheer on NBC's "Christmas at the Opry," hosted by Wynonna Judd. The musical special is now available to stream on Peacock.
An encore of the special will run on Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. EST.
Watch Lee's performance below.
When was 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' released?
Many people can probably recall the iconic scene from "Home Alone" where Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) threw a party as Lee's song played. (If you need a refresher, you can find it here.)
But Lee's song was considered an oldie even in the '90s.
Lee recorded "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" along with multiple other Christmas songs penned by songwriter Johnny Marks in 1956.
Record's producer and iconic Nashville creator, Owen Bradley, didn't think the song had much staying power, Lee said in an interview last month. But 65 years later, the song is still a Christmas staple and now a No. 1 hit.
Contributing: Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean
It's time for Christmas music!50 of the best songs to get you in the holiday spirit
veryGood! (23744)
Related
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Alix Earle Teases New Romance 3 Months After Tyler Wade Breakup
- Silicon Valley Bank and the sordid history of 'Palo Alto'
- We’re Convinced Matthew McConaughey's Kids Are French Chefs in the Making
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- The West Wing’s Aaron Sorkin Shares He Suffered Stroke
- Tom Brady Shares Cryptic Quote About False Friends After Gisele Bündchen's Revealing Interview
- Should We 'Pause' AI?
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Drew Barrymore Shares Her Under $25 Beauty Must-Haves That Make Every Day Pretty
Ranking
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- TikTok's Taylor Frankie Paul Shares Update on Her Mental Health Journey After Arrest
- Who gets the first peek at the secrets of the universe?
- Citing security concerns, Canada bans TikTok on government devices
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia can't come soon enough for civilians dodging Putin's bombs
- Hayden Panettiere Would Be Jennifer Coolidge's Anything in Order to Join The White Lotus
- Russian woman convicted after leaving note on grave of Putin's parents: You raised a freak and a killer
Recommendation
Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
Time is so much weirder than it seems
'The Last of Us' game actors and creator discuss the show's success
Chris Martin Reveals the Heartwarming Way Dakota Johnson Influenced His Coldplay Concerts
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
A Chinese drone for hobbyists plays a crucial role in the Russia-Ukraine war
El Niño is coming back — and could last the rest of the year
A tiny but dangerous radioactive capsule is found in Western Australia