65 years after its initial release, the song secured the top spot, setting a new record for the longest time span for a single to reach number 1 on the Hot 100.ģ. At the age of 78, she claimed the title of the oldest artist ever - male or female - to top the chart.Ģ. In reaching the summit of the Billboard Hot 100, the song notched up a trio of record-breaking achievements for Brenda Lee.ġ. (There’s no video of Lee performing the song from when it was first released.) The campaign worked because the family-friendly, twangy but soulful, and expertly sung but easy to sing along with song is so widely loved.
This year, Lee’s team gave the tune a final push on social media, fueled by a new video (shown above) featuring their 78-year-old star. But after four straight recent Decembers of peaking at number 2, it still hadn’t reached the top spot. The song got a boost from 1990’s Home Alone movie, where it was introduced to a lot of younger listeners.
It charted again in 19 and went on to become a Christmas classic. A flop in 1958, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” made it to number 14 two years later.
