Career Timeline of Brenda Lee: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Brenda Lee, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Brenda Lee, known as "Little Miss Dynamite," is an American singer prominent in rockabilly, pop, country, and Christmas music. Achieving her first hit at 12, she's known for songs like "Sweet Nothin's" and "I'm Sorry." Her 1958 Christmas song, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, making her the oldest artist to achieve this feat and breaking numerous records.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1960: Release of "I Want to Be Wanted"

In 1960, Brenda Lee released the single "I Want to Be Wanted".

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September 26, 1986: Installation in the Atlanta Music Hall of Fame

On September 26, 1986, Brenda Lee was installed in the Atlanta Music Hall of Fame 5th Annual Awards Ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia.

1990: Final Ballot for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1990, Brenda Lee reached the final ballot for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without success.

1997: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame

In 1997, Brenda Lee was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

October 4, 2000: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame

On October 4, 2000, Brenda Lee inducted Faron Young and Charley Pride into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

2001: Final Ballot for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2001, Brenda Lee reached the final ballot for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without success.

2002: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2002, Brenda Lee was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2002: Publication of Autobiography

In 2002, Brenda Lee's autobiography, "Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee," was published by Hyperion.

Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee

Check it on Amazon

September 2006: Recipient of the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement Award

In September 2006, Brenda Lee was the second recipient of the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement award by the Source Foundation in Nashville.

2007: Gospel Album Release

In 2007, Brenda Lee released a gospel collection album. Since then, she has rarely performed and stopped touring.

2008: 50th Anniversary of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

In 2008, Brenda Lee's recording of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" marked 50 years as a holiday standard.

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February 2009: Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award

In February 2009, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave Brenda Lee a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.

2012: Billboard Recurrent Rule Changes

In 2012, Billboard modified its recurrent rules, leading to Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" regularly returning to the Billboard Hot 100 since 2015.

2015: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Returns to Billboard Hot 100

Since 2015, after Billboard modified its recurrent rules in 2012, Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has regularly returned to the Billboard Hot 100.

2016: Announcement of Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

In 2016, Brenda Lee announced Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, and Fred Foster as the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

December 21, 2019: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Reaches New Peak

On December 21, 2019, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" reached a new peak of #3 in the United States, achieving 37.1 million streams and 5,000 digital sales.

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2022: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Re-Peaks at #2

From 2019 to 2022, the song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has re-peaked at #2, but was blocked from the top position by Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You".

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November 2023: Release of Music Video and TikTok Promotion

In November 2023, to celebrate the 65th anniversary of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", Brenda Lee released a music video with Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood and joined TikTok to promote the song.

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December 9, 2023: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Tops Billboard Hot 100

On December 9, 2023, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in the United States, becoming Lee's third #1 hit and first since her 1960 single, "I Want to Be Wanted".

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December 16, 2023: Lee Holds Number One Spot and Surpasses Age Record

The week ending December 16, 2023, Brenda Lee held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and surpassed her own age record, having turned 79 during that week.

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January 6, 2024: Returns to number one spot

On the week ending January 6, 2024, Brenda Lee returned to number one on Billboard Hot 100 with "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" for an additional week.

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October 25, 2024: Release of AI-Generated Spanish Version

On October 25, 2024, an AI-generated Spanish language version of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" called "Noche Buena y Navidad" approved by Brenda Lee, was released.

December 2024: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Named Official Holiday Song of Tennessee

Also in December 2024, Brenda Lee was honored at the Tennessee State Capitol, where "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was named the Official Holiday Song of Tennessee.

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December 2024: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Reaches Milestone on Spotify and Receives RIAA Certification

In December 2024, Spotify revealed that "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is among the Top 10 most streamed holiday songs of all time, reaching more than a billion downloads. The Recording Industry Association of America also certified "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" that month for 7× Platinum for US sales of 7 million copies of the digital single.

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