Singer Brenda Lee on her enduring Christmas classic

Summary

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Consider This from NPR

Episode: Singer Brenda Lee on her Enduring Christmas Classic

Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Scott Detrow

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Overview of the Episode

This episode dives into the enduring legacy of Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Host Scott Detrow interviews Brenda Lee shortly after her signature 1958 holiday hit finally topped the charts, just before her 80th birthday. Lee reflects on the song’s sustained popularity, her experience as a young star, and moments from her storied career—including a brush with the Beatles. The conversation is warm, personal, and full of nostalgia, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at a Christmas classic and the woman behind it.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Perennial Success of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

• Chart Milestone and Reflections

  • Lee expresses disbelief and gratitude that her song finally hit No. 1 decades after its release.
  • She feels immense pride in the songwriter, Johnny Marks, and credits the song’s staying power.
  • Quote: “Lord, has it been good to me. I never thought that a Christmas song would be my signature song, but it is and I'm proud of it.”
    [04:08] – Brenda Lee

• Listener and Artist Experience

  • Scott describes the annual moment in November when hearing a Christmas song marks the start of the season, and asks Lee about her own experience hearing herself in public.
  • Brenda Lee still finds it “surreal” each year, despite how long the song has been around.
  • Quote: “It still feels pretty surreal. …you know what, it never gets old.”
    [04:57] – Brenda Lee

The Original Recording Session

• Unique Studio Setting
  • Lee recalls that the song was recorded in the summer, and producer Owen Bradley made the studio cold and put up a Christmas tree to create the holiday mood.
  • Only one rehearsal and one take were needed, thanks to the song’s natural fit for her voice.
  • Quote: “We recorded it, of course, in the summer and he had a Christmas tree up and we just had a great time doing it. …we did that one maybe in one rehearsal and one take.”
    [05:38] – Brenda Lee

Christmas Song Rivalries & Respect

• On Mariah Carey and Song Competition
  • Scott notes that Brenda has finally edged out Mariah Carey on the Christmas charts.
  • Lee has not spoken to Carey but is a fan; she’s happy to share the season’s spotlight, emphasizing there’s “room for all of us.”
  • Quote: “No, but I'd love to. I love Mariah. I'm a big fan. Her Christmas song is great. You know, there's room for all of us. And if it's good. It’s everything.”
    [06:35] – Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee’s Broader Career

• The Beatles Connection

  • Lee tells the popular anecdote about the Beatles once opening for her during her UK tours. She even advocated for her record company to sign them, but was ignored.
  • Quote: “That's exactly right. I used to work with the guys when I first started going to England… I took it to my record company and I said, I need you to hear these guys and I need you to sign them. Well, they turned them down. …next thing you know, it's all about the Beatles.”
    [07:39] – Brenda Lee

• Longevity and Life Lessons

  • Scott observes Lee’s longevity and fulfillment, noting the difficulties many young stars face.
  • Lee credits her groundedness to having never been told she was famous and finding contentment in the work itself—not needing to be number one.
  • Quote: “Nobody ever told me I was famous. …I didn't have to be number one to be happy. And I think when you can get to that place in life, in anything that you do, you're gonna be successful.”
    [08:50] – Brenda Lee

• Other Hits and Musical Gratitude

  • Lee mentions “I’m Sorry” as another favorite hit from her early years, expressing deep gratitude to songwriters, musicians, and the Anita Kerr singers who shaped her sound.
  • Quote: “Well, you need to include. I'm sorry… The early stuff. Cause that. That's really how I cut my teeth and learned what I. I appreciate the songwriters that brought them to me.”
    [09:28] – Brenda Lee

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Becoming Her Signature:

  • “Lord, has it been good to me. I never thought that a Christmas song would be my signature song, but it is and I'm proud of it.”
    [04:08] – Brenda Lee

• On Annual Surreal Experience:

  • “It still feels pretty surreal. …you know what, it never gets old.”
    [04:57] – Brenda Lee

• On Christmas Chart Rivals:

  • “There's room for all of us. And if it's good. It’s everything.”
    [06:35] – Brenda Lee

• On the Beatles and Rolling the Dice:

  • “I took it to my record company and said, I need you to hear these guys and I need you to sign them. Well, they turned them down. …next thing you know, it's all about the Beatles, so you just never know.”
    [07:39] – Brenda Lee

• On Surviving Early Fame:

  • “Nobody ever told me I was famous. …I didn't have to be number one to be happy.”
    [08:50] – Brenda Lee

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [04:08] – Brenda Lee reflects on her song finally reaching No. 1 and her relationship with songwriter Johnny Marks
• [05:38] – Behind-the-scenes of the original “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” recording session
• [06:35] – Thoughts on Mariah Carey, holiday competition, and sharing the Christmas limelight
• [07:39] – Brenda Lee’s memories of touring with the Beatles and advocating for them early in their career
• [08:50] – Lee’s approach to navigating fame and enjoying a long, successful life in music
• [09:28] – “I’m Sorry” and gratitude to collaborators

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Conclusion: Sentimental Feelings and Holiday Wishes

The episode closes with Scott Detrow expressing his appreciation for the joy Lee’s music brings each holiday season:

“Well, Brenda Lee, I've got to say, I get a sentimental feeling every time I hear your song. And it was truly wonderful to talk to you. Thank you so much for joining us.”
([10:33] – Scott Detrow)

Brenda Lee responds with a simple, heartfelt wish:

“Thank you. Merry Christmas.”
([10:41] – Brenda Lee)

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This episode offers a warm, engaging look at an enduring Christmas classic and the artist who brings the season to life for generations of listeners.

Transcript

[Narrator]

It is almost Christmas and if you're celebrating, you almost certainly have music playing in the background.

[Background Singer]

I Don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need.

[Narrator]

Good chance that Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is yous is on your playlist. It is arguably one of the most iconic Christmas songs of recent decades. There are other gems out there. EarthKit's 1953 Santa Baby Santa Baby just.

[Brenda Lee]

Slip a sable under the tree for me. Been an awful good girl Santa Baby.

[Narrator]

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by the Jackson 5.

[Background Singer]

What a rapid would have been if Daddy had only seen Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.

[Narrator]

Maybe more modern ones, True Love by Ariana Grande. Or representing a truly great era in music. You could go with Backstreet Boys singing oh Holy Night. There is one Christmas hit though that has been around for decades.

[Background Singer]

Rocking around Christmas Tree at the Christmas Party Hall Mistletoe hung where you can see every.

[Narrator]

Couple tries to stop the 1958 classic by Brenda Lee rocking around the Christmas Tree.

[Background Singer]

Later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'll do some caroling.

[Narrator]

Even though it flirted with the top spot on the Billboard Holiday 100 for years, it never made it until a couple years ago. That is when Rockin around the Christmas Tree got a new music video with a cameo from Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker. I spoke to Brenda Lee shortly after she hit that milestone. We will hear that conversation coming up from npr.

[Scott Detrow]

I'm Scott Detrow.

[Background Singer]

Everyone dancing merrily in the new old fashioned way.

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[Narrator]

It'S consider this from NPR. Brenda Lee has been in the public eye ever since she recorded Rockin around the Christmas Tree. That song came out when Dwight Eisenhower was president. I talked to her when the song finally hit number one, just shy of her 80th birthday.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, you know what? That is still not connecting with my brain. I'm just so thrilled for the writer. I was very close to the writer, Johnny Marks, and I wish he was here to witness all this. But it's a great song, it's a wonderful song and Lord, has it been good to me. I never thought that a Christmas song would be my signature song, but it is and I'm proud of it.

[Scott Detrow]

You know, there's always a moment to me every November where I'm in the store and I hear a Christmas song for the first time and I think, oh, all right, it's Christmas season. I'm wondering, do you have a moment each year where you hear yourself in a store or out there when you hear rocking around the Christmas tree for the first time, for the season? And what does that feel like?

[Brenda Lee]

It still feels pretty surreal. It really does. And, and when I say that, people say, oh, Brenda, good Lord. That thing came out when you were 12 or 13 or however old you were. I said, but you know what, it never gets old.

[Scott Detrow]

Can we go back to, to when you first recorded it? Because you just mentioned right there you were 13 when the song came out. And I think this, this latest generation of fans have been surprised to learn you were so young because your voice sounds so full in the recording. You do not sound like a 13 year old. I mean, what, what, what was going on in your life at that time? What do you remember about going into the recording studio and recording this song?

[Brenda Lee]

Well, I remember that my great producer, Owen Bradley, he had the air conditioning turned to zero because we, we recorded it, of course, in the summer and he had a Christmas tree up and we just had a great time doing it. You know, good songs are easy to do and I think we did that one maybe in one rehearsal and one take.

[Scott Detrow]

You know, this, this past few weeks there's been so much attention. You've been climbing the charts. There's been this push to get this to number one. And of course Mariah Carey is the other singer who in recent years has been so identified with the number one Christmas hit. Have, have you and her had any conversation in recent weeks? I'm wondering.

[Brenda Lee]

No, but I'd love to. I love Mariah. I'm a big fan. Her Christmas song is great. You know, there's room for all of us. And if it's Good. It's everything.

[Narrator]

So I.

[Scott Detrow]

Well, I listen to both of you a lot around this time of year, so I appreciate you both.

[Brenda Lee]

I bet. I bet you do. I bet you get tired of us not.

[Scott Detrow]

Not for another few weeks.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, that's big of you. Thank you so much.

[Scott Detrow]

You mentioned before you are totally fine with the fact that this is the song that is in people's minds, but I wanted to talk about the rest of your career, if you're up for it for a few minutes.

[Brenda Lee]

Absolutely.

[Scott Detrow]

There's an anecdote that's floated around a lot of the profiles that mentions that there was one point in time where the Beatles opened for.

[Brenda Lee]

That's exactly right. I used to work with the guys when I first started going to England, touring over there, and just loved them. I was closest, I guess, to John. Knew they were gonna be huge. Brought back a little acetate that they made for me and I took it to my record company and I said, I need you to hear these guys and I need you to sign them. Well, they turned them down. And of course, the next thing you know, it's all about the Beatles, so you just never know. But I knew they were good.

[Background Singer]

A music sweet the lights are low Playing a song on the radio.

[Scott Detrow]

You know, you had success so young and so many people who have successful so young have a harder time in life. It seems like you've lived a really fulfilling, long life. It seems like things have worked out pretty well. What do you think? What do you think the trick was to navigating being so famous early on in your teen years and coming out of it seemingly pretty okay?

[Brenda Lee]

Well, I think that the greatest thing was nobody ever told me I was famous. I loved what I did. I loved singing. I love the whole scope of the industry. And I just wanted to be a part of it. I didn't have to be number one to be happy. And I think when you can get to that place in life, in anything that you do, you're gonna be successful.

[Scott Detrow]

Of your other hits that people these days might not be as much familiar with, what's your favorite? What's one that we should make sure to include in this segment?

[Brenda Lee]

Well, you need to include. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[Background Singer]

So sorry that I was such a fool.

[Brenda Lee]

The early stuff. Cause that. That's really how I cut my teeth and learned what I. I appreciate the songwriters that brought them to me. I appreciate the great A team, the musicians, because they were like my big brothers and the Anita Kerr singers. It's just listening to all these great guys do their thing and share their talent with me.

[Background Singer]

Love was blind and I was too blind.

[Brenda Lee]

To see.

[Background Singer]

Sorry.

[Brenda Lee]

And it just don't get any better than that.

[Scott Detrow]

Well, Brenda Lee, I've got to say, I get a sentimental feeling every time I hear your song. And it was truly wonderful to talk to you. Thank you so much for joining us.

[Brenda Lee]

Thank you. Merry Christmas.

[Background Singer]

You will get a sentimental feeling when.

[Scott Detrow]

You hear this episode was produced by Connor Donovan and Brianna Scott.

[Narrator]

It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr.

[Scott Detrow]

I'm Scott Detrow.

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