Current:Home > ScamsChristmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1 -Intelligent Capital Compass
Christmas queens: How Mariah Carey congratulated Brenda Lee for her historic No. 1
View
Date:2025-04-18 21:41:02
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! (71)
Related
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Mystery Solved: This Is the Ultimate Murder, She Wrote Gift Guide
- Dispute over criminal jurisdiction flares in Oklahoma between tribal police, jailers
- Two Rhode Island men charged with assault and battery in death of Patriots fan
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Nike will lay off workers as part of $2-billion cost-cutting plan
- At Dallas airport, artificial intelligence is helping reunite travelers with their lost items
- At Dallas airport, artificial intelligence is helping reunite travelers with their lost items
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- 'Everyone walked away with part of themselves healed' – 'The Color Purple' reimagined
Ranking
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- THINGS TO KNOW: Deadline looms for new map in embattled North Dakota redistricting lawsuit
- Turkey detains 304 people with suspected links to Islamic State group in simultaneous raids
- Are COVID-19 symptoms still the same? What to know about this winter's JN.1 wave
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Xfinity data breach, Comcast hack affects nearly 36 million customers: What to know
- Judge keeps Chris Christie off Maine's Republican primary ballot
- A South Korean religious sect leader has been sentenced to 23 years in prison over sex crimes
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
TikToker Allison Kuch Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With NFL Star Issac Rochell
NBA on Christmas: Schedule, times, TV info, how to watch league's annual holiday showcase
'In shock': Mississippi hunter bags dwarf deer with record-sized antlers
Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
Comedian Jo Koy will host the 2024 Golden Globes
Australia batter Khawaja gets ICC reprimand over black armband to support Palestinians in Gaza
Half of Americans leave FSA healthcare money on the table. Here are 10 ways to spend it.