How Brenda Lee’s Vintage Hit Became Today’s Top Christmas Song
Over half a century since its release, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has risen to the top of the U.S. music charts, surpassing Mariah Carey’s long-standing holiday hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” At 79 years old, Lee achieved the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, maintaining it for two consecutive weeks.
Typically, new releases dominate Billboard’s weekly list, which factors in sales, streaming data, and radio play to determine the country’s most popular songs. Lee’s 65-year-old Christmas classic’s rise to prominence is unusual in this context. Marking its 65th anniversary, Lee released the song’s first official video on November 3, featuring appearances from country music stars Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker.
Lee’s recent engagement on TikTok, where she joined in September, played a significant role in the song’s resurgence. She shared clips from the music video, with one achieving 15 million views. In her posts, Lee, dressed in festive attire, revealed lesser-known facts about the song, including recording it at age 13 and not anticipating its long-term success. Her direct interaction with her followers, whom she calls “Brendanators,” along with her grandmotherly image, resonated with TikTok users, especially during the holiday season.
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard’s executive director of music, spoke with Yahoo Entertainment about Lee’s ascent to the top spot. He credited the promotional efforts of her team for differentiating her from other artists. The media attention from her initial chart-topping week likely contributed to her sustained success, marking her third Hot 100 No. 1 hit and her first since 1960.
Billboard’s adjustment of its Hot 100 formula in 2018, giving more weight to streaming over sales, has aided the resurgence of older Christmas songs each holiday season, including hits by Carey, Bobby Helms, and Wham!. This change means fans no longer need to repurchase songs annually to impact the charts – streaming suffices.
Lipshutz also noted that Lee’s viral presence on TikTok introduced her to a new audience and capitalized on the holiday season’s sentimental nature. He observed that most of Lee’s listeners aren’t necessarily following chart battles but are more attracted to the heartwarming story of a veteran artist.
He suggested that other artists might adopt Lee’s approach of using music videos and TikTok for promotion. While many chart-topping artists like Helms and George Michael are no longer alive to witness their songs’ renewed popularity, their estates and record companies are reaping the benefits.
Lipshutz speculated that newer holiday songs, like Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” might eventually reach the top spot, but it could take decades. He reflected on the shift in the Christmas music landscape, noting that Carey’s dominance has been challenged, and it will be interesting to see which songs emerge as new holiday favorites.
