Current:Home > InvestChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -TradeWisdom
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
View
Date:2025-04-18 21:43:02
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! (1)
Related
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Goodnight, sweet spacecraft: NASA's InSight lander may have just signed off from Mars
- John Deere vows to open up its tractor tech, but right-to-repair backers have doubts
- How facial recognition allowed the Chinese government to target minority groups
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Transcript: National Economic Council director Lael Brainard on Face the Nation, May 14, 2023
- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Trailer Reveals the Most High-Stakes Love Story Yet
- The charges against crypto's Bankman-Fried are piling up. Here's how they break down
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Delilah Belle Hamlin Wants Jason Momoa to Slide Into Her DMs
Ranking
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Volcanic activity on Venus spotted in radar images, scientists say
- Princess Diana's Niece Lady Amelia Spencer Marries Greg Mallett in Fairytale South Africa Wedding
- NPR staff review the biggest games of March, and more
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Pregnant Rumer Willis' Sister Scout Is Desperately Excited to Become an Aunt
- VPR's Raquel Leviss Denies Tom Schwartz Hookup Was a “Cover Up” for Tom Sandoval Affair
- Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's Daughter Tallulah Willis Weighs in on Nepo Baby Debate
Recommendation
The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
'Like a Dragon: Ishin!' Review: An epic samurai tale leaves Japan for the first time
Israel, Islamic Jihad reach cease-fire after days of violence which left dozens dead
Scientists are flying into snowstorms to explore winter weather mysteries
Bodycam footage shows high
Radio Host Jeffrey Vandergrift Found Dead One Month After Going Missing
What scientists are hoping to learn by flying directly into snowstorms
What scientists are hoping to learn by flying directly into snowstorms