The Brew: Taylor Who? 78-Year-Old Brenda Lee Tops the Pop Charts With Christmas Classic She Recorded at Age 13, by Al Perrotta

By Al Perrotta, The Stream, December 6, 2023

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and co-author of the counter-terrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism. 

Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Brew kicks off with some holiday spirit and a big win for the older folks.

79-Year-Old Brenda Lee Tops Billboard Hot 100 With “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”?!

Score another one for the grey hairs! A full 65 years after its release and a week before her 79th birthday, Brenda Lee and her classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” top the Billboard Hot 100. This makes Brenda Lee the oldest person to ever hit #1. Adding to the “wow” factor, Lee was only 13 years old when she recorded the song. Lee also shatters the record for longest span between number one songs: 63 years and 4 months. Her iconic “I’m Sorry” topped the chart in July of 1960.

Renewed interest in the song was sparked by a new video Lee has done with Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood in honor of the anniversary.

“I like that God has given me that favor that I can stand aside and look and know that it wasn’t just me; that it’s a conglomerate of a lot of people that made the song what it is,” Lee told Billboard upon hearing the news she has the number one song in the land.

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is the third Christmas song to ever top the Hot 100, after “The Chipmunk Song” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” It’s also one of four Christmas songs in the Top 10 this week, joining Burl Ives’ “Holly Jolly Christmas,” Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and Andy Williams’ “It’s a Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” (I know what many of you are saying. “’Last Christmas’?! Bleh!”) ……

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