Brenda Lee was only 13 when she recorded the holiday classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958 and its legacy still lives on. This song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart 65 years after its release, but how exactly did it secure the No. 1 spot after all this time?
Social Media Push
Brenda Lee said that her team and her fans deserve the credit for the recent success of “Christmas Tree”—and she’s up to something. This song experienced a new surge in popularity after the veteran singer joined TikTok and celebrated the song’s 65th anniversary by filming a brand-new music video.
Slow Rise
The success of “Christmas Tree” didn’t come out of nowhere, and this song has been steadily climbing up the Hot 100 chart for years. It took the No. 2 spot behind “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey for four consecutive years before finally hitting No. 1.
Holiday Takeover
“Christmas Tree” is a part of the holiday takeover on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. Several holiday classics made it to the top five including Carey’s behind “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock”, and Wham!’s “Last Christmas”.
Setting Records
At 78, Lee is the oldest artist to ever climb to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she set several more records along the way. Lee also had the longest run to No. 1 (65 years), the longest span, and the longest break between No. 1 singles (63 years).
