Brenda Lee's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Brenda Lee.
Brenda Lee, born Brenda Mae Tarpley, is an American singer celebrated for her contributions to rockabilly, pop, country, and Christmas music. Nicknamed "Little Miss Dynamite," she had her first Billboard hit at age 12. Her popular songs include "Sweet Nothin's" and "I'm Sorry." Lee achieved a historic milestone in 2023 when her 1958 recording, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," topped the Billboard Hot 100, making her the oldest artist to ever achieve this feat and breaking several chart records.
1957: First Hit and Nickname
In 1957, Brenda Lee had her first hit with "One Step at a Time" and gained the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite."
1960: Success with "That's All You Gotta Do"
In 1960, Brenda Lee had success with the song "That's All You Gotta Do", marking a period of significant achievement in her career.
1960: Release of "I'm Sorry"
In 1960, Brenda Lee recorded her signature song, "I'm Sorry", which became one of the biggest hits of the year after an initial delay due to concerns about its suitability for a 15-year-old. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was also noticed later that year.
1960: "I'm Sorry" Reached #1
In 1960, Brenda Lee's song "I'm Sorry" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the second woman ever to top the chart.
1960: UK Hit with "Sweet Nothin's"
In the spring of 1960, Brenda Lee's "Sweet Nothin's" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, marking her first hit single in the United Kingdom.
1961: UK Hit with "Let's Jump the Broomstick"
In 1961, Brenda Lee had a UK hit with "Let's Jump the Broomstick", a rockabilly number that had not charted in the United States.
May 1962: Greatest UK Hit with "Speak to Me Pretty"
In May 1962, Brenda Lee's "Speak to Me Pretty" peaked at No. 3 in the UK, becoming her greatest hit in the UK by chart placing.
1962: Success with "Break It to Me Gently"
In 1962, Brenda Lee had success with the song "Break It to Me Gently", continuing her run of hits.
1963: UK Hit with "All Alone Am I"
In 1963, Brenda Lee had a hit in the UK with "All Alone Am I", continuing her success in the United Kingdom.
1964: Success of "As Usual" and "Coming on Strong"
In 1964, "As Usual" reached No. 12 in the US and No. 5 in the UK, and "Coming on Strong" peaked at No. 11 in the US, marking a period of continued success.
1964: UK Hit with "As Usual"
In 1964, Brenda Lee had a hit in the UK with "As Usual", further solidifying her popularity in the region.
1969: First Country Hit
In 1969, Brenda Lee had her first country hit with "Johnny One Time", after being marketed exclusively as a pop artist throughout the 1960s.
1973: Top Ten Hit with "Nobody Wins"
In 1973, Brenda Lee had a top ten hit on the country charts with "Nobody Wins", marking a resurgence in her career.
1974: Major Hits
In 1974, Brenda Lee continued her comeback with major hits including "Wrong Ideas" and "Big Four Poster Bed".
1975: Major Hits
In 1975, Brenda Lee continued her success with major hits including "Rock on Baby" and "He's My Rock".
1979: Return to the Top Ten
In 1979, Brenda Lee began another run at the top ten with "Tell Me What It's Like", marking a resurgence in her career.
1980: Top 10 Hits
In 1980, Brenda Lee had two follow-up hits that reached the Top 10: "The Cowgirl and the Dandy" and "Broken Trust", the latter featuring vocal backing by the Oak Ridge Boys.
1982: Album 'The Winning Hand' Success
In 1982, Brenda Lee's album, The Winning Hand, with Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, became a surprise hit, reaching the top ten on the U.S. country albums chart.
1984: Hit with "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" Duet
In 1984, Brenda Lee had her last well-known hit with "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" in duet with George Jones.
September 26, 1986: Induction into the Atlanta Music Hall of Fame
On September 26, 1986, Brenda Lee was inducted into the Atlanta Music Hall of Fame at the 5th Annual Awards Ceremony.
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 of Faron Young and Charley Pride
On October 4, 2000, Brenda Lee inducted Faron Young and Charley Pride into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2002: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2002, Brenda Lee was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
September 2006: Recipient of the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement Award
In September 2006, Brenda Lee received the Jo Meador-Walker Lifetime Achievement award by the Source Foundation in Nashville.
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.
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 to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
December 9, 2023: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" at Number 1
As of December 9, 2023, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" spent 54 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at number 1 in 2023. The song was originally recorded in 1958.
December 2023: Legislation Filed to Recognize Song
In December 2023, legislation was filed to recognize the song in Tennessee.
2023: Recognized as one of the Greatest Singers
In 2023, Brenda Lee was named by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest singers of all time, recognizing her significant contributions to music.
2023: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Topped Charts
In 2023, Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making her the oldest artist to ever top the chart. The song had been recorded in 1958.
2023: Ranked on Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Brenda Lee at number 161 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
December 2024: "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Named Official Holiday Song of Tennessee
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.
