Current:Home > MyChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -CapitalTrack
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
TradeEdge Exchange View
Date:2025-04-08 12:28:19
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! (49587)
Related
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Brothers Travis and Jason Kelce honored with bobblehead giveaway at Cavs-Celtics game
- Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500k in defamation case and is expected to close
- Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says federal government not notified about suspect in Georgia nursing student's death
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Hurricane season forecast is already looking grim: Here's why hot oceans, La Niña matter
- Blizzard aftermath in California's Sierra Nevada to bring more unstable weather
- Chris Mortensen, ESPN award-winning football analyst, dies at 72
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Father pleads guilty to manslaughter in drowning death of son
Ranking
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500k in defamation case and is expected to close
- Caitlin Clark, Iowa set sights on postseason. How to watch Hawkeyes in Big Ten tournament.
- Rep. Mike Turner says aid to Ukraine is critical: We have to support them now or they will lose
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Teenager dead, 4 other people wounded in shooting at Philadelphia bus stop, police say
- Takeaways from the Wisconsin 2020 fake electors lawsuit settlement
- Tennessee, Houston headline winners and losers from men's basketball weekend
Recommendation
Sam Taylor
3 passengers on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 where door plug blew out sue the airline and Boeing for $1 billion
EA Sports announces over 10,000 athletes have accepted NIL deal for its college football video game
A ship earlier hit by Yemen's Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea, the first vessel lost in conflict
2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
Kentucky House supports special election to fill any Senate vacancy in Mitch McConnell’s home state
Kate Middleton Spotted Out for First Time Since Abdominal Surgery
Trump tried to crush the 'DEI revolution.' Here's how he might finish the job.