Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday hit, 'Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,' has become a timeless Christmas anthem, but its path to success was anything but instant.
At just 12 years old, Brenda Lee recorded the song in 1958. Written by legendary songwriter Johnny Marks, who also penned 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer', the track was surprisingly inspired by an unlikely moment. "I asked Johnny how he wrote Rockin’, and he said, 'I was lying on a beach in New York, and there were pine trees swaying on one side. When I woke up, they were rocking back and forth,'" Lee shared with PEOPLE.
Despite Lee’s young age and powerful voice, the song initially failed to make waves.
"I remember thinking, 'Well, it’s a great song, but people just weren’t ready for it yet,'" Brenda later reflected.
Over the years, however, the song began gaining traction, steadily growing in popularity until it finally became a holiday staple.
In an incredible twist, 'Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023 — a staggering 65 years after its release. It set a record for the longest time a song has taken to top the chart, proving its enduring charm and Brenda Lee’s lasting influence.
What began as a simple holiday tune recorded by a young singer has become a symbol of the Christmas season, playing on radios and playlists around the world every year. "It’s amazing to see how far the song has come," Brenda said proudly.
