Current:Home > InvestChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -Horizon Finance School
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
View
Date:2025-04-12 20:29:44
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! (181)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Veterans advocate claims smoking gun records prove toxic exposure at military base
- Oklahoma tops list of college football programs with most players in Super Bowl 58
- Her son was a school shooter. Now, a jury will decide if Jennifer Crumbley is guilty, too.
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Did the Georgia groundhog see his shadow? General Beauregard Lee declares early spring
- A big idea for small farms: How to link agriculture, nutrition and public health
- Joshua Schulte, who sent CIA secrets to WikiLeaks, sentenced to 40 years in prison
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Why Demi Lovato Performed Heart Attack at a Cardiovascular Disease Event
Ranking
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- NFL veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater named head coach at alma mater, Miami Northwestern
- Olivia Culpo Reacts After Christian McCaffrey's Mom Says They Can't Afford Super Bowl Suite
- Joel Embiid set to miss more games with meniscus injury, 76ers say
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Defense appeals ruling to keep Wisconsin teen’s homicide case in adult court
- Former CIA software engineer sentenced to 40 years on espionage and child pornography charges
- News website The Messenger shuts down after 8 months. See more 2024 media layoffs.
Recommendation
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
Senators reach a deal on border policy bill. Now it faces an uphill fight to passage
Adrian Beltré to have Rangers logo on baseball Hall of Fame plaque. No team emblem for Jim Leyland
Incriminating letter points to the kidnapping of Sacramento father, say prosecutors
San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
Bill Cosby sued for alleged 1986 sexual assault of teen in Las Vegas hotel
Trial date set for white supremacist who targeted Black shoppers at a Buffalo supermarket
Crystal Hefner Says Hugh Hefner Wanted Her to Stay Skinny and Have Big Fake Boobs