The diamond-certified hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey has ruled our Christmas playlists for the last four years. But a strong opponent has entered the ring and forced Mariah Carey to give up the desired position.
Brenda Lee’s 1965 holiday classic, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” has peaked at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles rankings. The song had previously been at number two, therefore this was the first time, 65 years following its debut, it had ever reached the top spot.
In her career, this is Lee’s third No. 1 hit. In 1960, she achieved her first number-one hit, “I’m Sorry.”
Lee, who surpassed record-holders Cher for “Believe” at 52 and Mariah Carey for “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at 53, is now the oldest woman to top the Hot 100 at 78. Lee was barely 13 years old when she recorded the hit debut, penned by Johnny Marks.
The 78-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer debuted the official music video for the decades-old song last month. It featured the singer swinging and two-stepping to the iconic Christmas song while wearing a crimson gown. Celebrating the song’s 65th anniversary, Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood performed in the music video.
She released the EP, A Rockin’ Christmas with Brenda Lee, in November along with the music video. It included the reimagined version of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Filous, along with other holiday favorites like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “A Marshmallow World,” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”