Current:Home > MarketsChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -Nova Finance Academy
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
View
Date:2025-04-12 21:02:58
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! (1478)
Related
- Sam Taylor
- Feds search Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ properties as part of sex trafficking probe, AP sources say
- US consumer confidence holds steady even as high prices weigh on household budgets
- The Bachelor Season 28 Finale: Find Out If Joey Graziadei Got Engaged
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Man stabbed on New York subway train after argument with another passenger about smoking
- TEA Business College leads innovation in quantitative finance and artificial intelligence
- Charges dropped against Long Island nurse accused of slamming 2-day-old infant into a bassinet
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Wisconsin Supreme Court lets ruling stand that declared Amazon drivers to be employees
Ranking
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Florida passes law requiring age verification for porn sites, social media restrictions
- 'Nothing is staying put in the ocean': Bridge collapse rescue teams face big challenges
- Horoscopes Today, March 24, 2024
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- In New Jersey, some see old-school politics giving way to ‘spring’ amid corruption scandal
- Princess Kate and Prince William are extremely moved by public response to her cancer diagnosis, palace says
- Deadly shootings at bus stops: Are America's buses under siege from gun violence?
Recommendation
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Princess Kate and Prince William are extremely moved by public response to her cancer diagnosis, palace says
Court says 2 of 4 men charged in Moscow attack admit guilt as suspects show signs of beating
'Bachelor' finale reveals Joey Graziadei's final choice: Who is he engaged to?
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Photos, video show collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge after cargo ship collision
Man convicted of killing 6-year-old Tucson girl to be sentenced in April
Feds search Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ properties as part of sex trafficking probe, AP sources say