Current:Home > InvestChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -Wealthify
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
View
Date:2025-04-13 01:40:05
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! (36821)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Miami Dolphins to start Tyler Huntley at quarterback against Titans
- Kendra Wilkinson Shares Rare Update on Her Kids Hank and Alijah
- Opinion: Antonio Pierce's cold 'business' approach reflects reality of Raiders' challenges
- Police remove gator from pool in North Carolina town: Watch video of 'arrest'
- New Orleans, US Justice Department move to end police department’s consent decree
- Virginia Tech misses out on upset of No. 9 Miami after Hail Mary TD is overturned
- The final 3 anti-abortion activists have been sentenced in a Tennessee clinic blockade
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Alum Kim Richards Gets Into Confrontation With Sister Kyle Richards
Ranking
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Plaintiffs won’t revive federal lawsuit over Tennessee’s redistricting maps
- Dame Maggie Smith, 'Downton Abbey' star and Professor McGonagall in 'Harry Potter,' dies at 89
- Joe Wolf, who played for North Carolina and 7 NBA teams, dies at 59
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Beware: 'card declined' message could be the sign of a scam
- Jana Kramer Reveals She Lost “Almost Half Her Money” to Mike Caussin in Divorce
- Michael Andretti hands over control of race team to business partner. Formula 1 plans in limbo
Recommendation
Oklahoma parole board recommends governor spare the life of man on death row
Love is Blind's Marshall Glaze and Fiancée Chay Barnes Break Up Less Than One Year After Engagement
Appalachian State-Liberty football game canceled due to flooding from Hurricane Helene
Prince fans can party overnight like it’s 1999 with Airbnb rental of ‘Purple Rain’ house
Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
Former 'Survivor' player, Louisiana headmaster convicted of taping students' mouths shut
Ready to race? The USA TODAY Hot Chocolate Run series is heading to 16 cities this fall
'Mighty strange': Tiny stretch of Florida coast hit with 3 hurricanes in 13 months