Vince Gill, Keith Urban Join Brenda Lee For “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Brenda Lee surprised the crowd at the 8th “All for the Hall” benefit Tuesday night (December 6) with a live performance of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”
The “All for the Hall” benefit concert served as a fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame’s education program, and raised nearly $1 million in 2023!
One of the highlights of this year’s even was the surprise appearance of country legend Brenda Lee. Fresh off the heels of landing her 3rd No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the 78-year-old joined hosts Vince Gill and Keith Urban on stage to sing “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”
RELATED: BRENDA LEE RELEASES NEW VIDEO FOR “ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE”
Gill introduced Miss Brenda by saying, “There is no one I have ever met that can lay claim to this. When she was gettin’ goin’ in her early days, the Beatles opened for her,” Vince said. “That’s a fact. She’s one of my best pals. 65 years ago this song was release, and right now … it’s the number one song in the nation.”
Nicknamed “Little Miss Dynamite” due to her tiny stature, Brenda Lee took the stage and was met with a standing ovation. “Ready to do a little rockin’ around the Christmas tree?” Lee asked the crowd before launching into the energetic holiday favorite with Keith and Vince playing in her backup band.
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Lee first released “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” in 1958 when she was only 13.
Its recent chart-topping success shattered several records, including the longest rise to No. 1 from a song’s debut. It beat the record set by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” which didn’t reach No. 1 until 25 years after it’s 1994 release. Brenda Lee now holds the record with a 65-year-span between song release and topping the chart.
Brenda Lee can also boast the longest gap between No. 1’s (63 years) and is the oldest person to ever top the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing Louis Armstrong who was 62-years-old when his hit single “Hello, Dolly” was No. 1 in 1964.
Watch Brenda Lee react to being told that her 65-year-old song had finally reached No. 1 in the video below.
