BOBBYCAST - Christmas Special: Brenda Lee on the Unexpected Life of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

Summary

The Bobby Bones Show — Bobbycast Christmas Special: Brenda Lee on the Unexpected Life of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Bobby Bones
Guest: Brenda Lee

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Episode Overview

In this holiday special, Bobby Bones interviews the legendary Brenda Lee, spotlighting the enduring legacy of her classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," which recently hit #1 decades after its original release. Brenda discusses her journey as a child star, the fascinating path of her Christmas anthem, pivotal influences, international experiences, and the changes she's experienced in the music industry. The episode offers heartwarming stories, industry wisdom, and memorable reflections perfect for the holiday season.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Enduring Legacy of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"

• Origins and Late-Blooming Success
  • Not an immediate hit: Brenda shares how "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was not a massive hit upon release and only gained iconic status later, especially after being featured in "Home Alone."
    • “It wasn't. I mean, it was played. But I'll tell you, when it really took off...my friends called me one night and said, Brenda, have you seen the movie Home Alone?...your song's all over it.” (05:21–05:47)
  • Jewish Songwriter Connection: The song was written by Johnny Marks, who, despite not celebrating Christmas, wrote many classic Christmas songs.
    • "When you think it was written by a Jewish man, it truly was." (03:41)
    • Brenda recalls asking Johnny how he wrote Christmas songs: "He said, I don't know. But when I sit down to write, that's what comes out." (04:32)

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

• Childhood and Atlanta Roots
  • Growing up in Lithonia, Georgia, Brenda performed regularly in Atlanta from age 10 and was deeply drawn to mature, adult songs.
    • "It just felt natural." (09:42)
    • "I never could identify with kitschy songs. I liked the good songs." (10:25)
• Support from Family
  • Her mother was a strong supporter, providing opportunities but never forcing her to perform.
    • "She just asked. She was very brazen. She would say, my little girl can really sing. Would you let her sing tonight? And finally the band said, yeah." (09:20)
• Moves for Her Career: She moved from Georgia to Missouri (for a spot on the Ozark Jubilee) and then to Nashville for recording opportunities at an early age.

Breakthrough and Mentorship

• Supporters and Opportunities
  • Red Foley was instrumental in Brenda's career, seeing both her talent and her family's need.
    • "I think the thing he really saw me, in me, was the need. The need to be able to help my family financially and the need to be able to sing. I love to sing." (17:34)
• Record Deal Young: Brenda signed her first deal at 12, with her mother managing the business side effectively and trustworthy people guiding her.

Touring, Safety, and International Fame

• Global Traveler at 12: Brenda discusses touring the world, overcoming stage fright, and always feeling protected by her mother and her band.
• Japan Connection: Brenda became a superstar in Japan, singing partially in Japanese and showing deep appreciation for her fans there. - “We landed at the airport, and all these young kids were...B.L.F.C. hats...it meant Brenda Lee Fan Club.” (25:44) - On Japanese hospitality: “If you go into a department store...and you’re lost, they’ll take you to where you’re supposed to go. They'll say in their language, they'll take your hand...” (27:56)
• Learning Japanese for Fans: She performed “One Rainy Night in Tokyo” half in English, half in Japanese, leading to yearly tours. - "I bet I went 40 times." (27:39)

Legendary Encounters and the Music Scene

• Grand Ole Opry at Age 10: Brenda describes being the little sister of the Opry, mentored and loved by legends like Patsy Cline, Dottie West, and Tammy Wynette.
• Meeting Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, and Judy Garland
  • Hearing Hank Sr. at the Opry: “A dream, really, because, you know, I sang all his songs and had hits with a lot of them...” (20:32)
  • On Elvis: “He was almost like a pretend person because he was so good, you couldn't believe he was real.” (20:51)
    • “Pure voice. No knob turning, no nothing. That was him.” (21:53)

The Beatles Opened for Brenda

• Brenda reveals that the Beatles (pre-Ed Sullivan) opened for her on tour alongside Dusty Springfield. - “I saw the greatness in them and you would have, too.” (33:40) - On her label’s rejection of the Beatles: “The President stood up and said, Brenda, we're very proud that you brought this in, but this look will never happen and this sound won't either. Next year they were playing Shea Stadium.” (34:00–35:07)

Reflections on the Music Industry (Then & Now)

• Family Atmosphere of the Past: Brenda discusses how recording with the A-team in Nashville felt like a family operation, very different from today’s more impersonal, business-like atmosphere. - “It was the A team of musicians, it was Owen, it was Selby Coffin, the engineer, it was the Anita Kerr Singers...It was a family, which doesn't happen today. And that's why I stopped recording...” (38:38–39:34)
• On Auto-Tune and Authenticity: Brenda laments the rise of studio production tricks and the difficulty knowing if today’s artists are the real deal. - "Today with all the mechanical stuff they have to use, you don't know if they're singing or not." (36:20)

Recent Resurgence and Legacy

• Going Viral Again: Both “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I’m Sorry” have found new viral life, including on TikTok. - “What is old is new. As old as new is old is new again.” (28:53)
• Greatest Hits Release: Brenda discusses her new Greatest Hits collection now available digitally and on vinyl.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brenda Lee on Unpredictable Success:
  "After all these years, that's what gets you in this business, because you don't know what's coming." (45:53)
• Advice from Judy Garland:
  "If you had one piece of advice to give me, what would that be? And she didn't skip a beat. And she said, don't let them take away your childhood." (44:34)
• On Performing as a Child:
  "People might give up on you, but don't you give up on you." (35:44)
• On Patsy Cline:
  "She was not affected at all by the industry. I loved that about her. And she just kind of took me under her wing, as did Dottie West." (19:46)
• On Her Mother’s Sacrifice:
  "I couldn't be here without her, but I couldn't be who I am without her either, because she was my best publicity person, my best. Okay, you can do this. She was my everything in my singing." (15:58)
• On Music's Timeless Impact:
  "I never had the thought, oh, I'm doing this because I'm going to be a big success. I was doing it because I loved it and it was my company." (37:48)
• On the Industry:
  "Artists can't do anything unless you play it. I mean, they can, but it's probably gonna lay on a table or lay somewhere. To me, we're all a family." (41:46)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:39] – "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" finally hitting #1
• [04:32–05:47] – The role of "Home Alone" in the song’s resurgence
• [09:20] – Mother’s brazen support to get Brenda on stage
• [17:27] – Red Foley’s belief in Brenda as a young artist
• [19:13] – First Grand Ole Opry performance (age 10)
• [20:51] – Meeting and watching Elvis record
• [25:44] – Recognition and fandom in Japan
• [27:02] – Singing in Japanese for “One Rainy Night in Tokyo”
• [33:12–35:07] – The Beatles opening for Brenda and being dismissed by her record label
• [35:44] – Brenda’s advice to her younger self (and all dreamers)
• [44:34] – Judy Garland’s advice: “Don’t let them take away your childhood.”

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Episode Highlights

• Brenda Lee’s humility and sense of wonder at her song’s long, unexpected journey to the top spot on the charts.
• Her stories about encountering music legends, traveling the world, and adjusting to changes in the music industry.
• Personal memories of being mentored and, in turn, mentoring others.
• A sense of gratitude for fans, collaborators, and her mother’s support.

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Tone of the Episode

The conversation is warm, nostalgic, and peppered with laughter and heartfelt memories. Both Bobby and Brenda share a deep reverence for the music and the ever-evolving community that surrounds it. Brenda’s anecdotes are sincere, wise, and often humorous, giving fans an intimate look at her journey and the timeless magic of Christmas music.

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive overview of this Bobbycast featuring Brenda Lee and the remarkable story behind “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Transcript

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[Bobby Bones]

Because it is Christmas week. When we loaded this, I thought it'd be fun to play the interview with Brenda Lee. Now Brenda Lee has rockin around the Christmas Tree.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

That song has been around forever.

[Bobby Bones]

But what we learn in this podcast in this interview is that it wasn't a massive hit when it came out. Now, Brenda Lee just turned 81 on December 11th. In this interview, she talks about how Home Alone helped launch. Well, I don't want to spoil it, but rocking around the Christmas tree, even though it was so many years after, we talk about playing the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. We talk about her going to Japan when she was 14 and meeting Elvis and hanging out with Patsy Cline. Here it is. This is our episode with Brenda Lee.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Hello, miss Brenda Lee.

[Brenda Lee]

Hello.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It's really good to see you again.

[Brenda Lee]

And you as well.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

The last time that we talked, we were trying to get that Christmas song up to number one.

[Brenda Lee]

We were.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And boy, did it go to number one.

[Brenda Lee]

And you did it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Oh, I didn't do anything.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, you helped with it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Rocking around the Christmas tree went number one.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. That's really exciting when you think of how old it is, it truly is. And when you think it was written by a Jewish man, it truly was.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So what's remarkable about that song? And then I definitely want to get on to the greatest hits. But what's remarkable about that song is that it has been around for a long time. It is sustained. And also it even sounds like the audio quality sounds like a song that was recorded many years ago. Yet it's so good, it continues to not only just linger around, but again, it's always in the top two or three. And it went number one finally. Like, the sustained success of that song is unlike many songs ever. At what point did you realize this song is going to just stick around for decades?

[Brenda Lee]

You know, I never dreamed in the world that that would be my signature song. I always thought I'm Sorry would probably be it. And that song was written by the great Johnny Marks, who was Jewish, who wrote all the great Christmas songs. And I said to him one day, I said, johnny, you don't even believe in Christmas. I said, how are you writing these songs? He said, I don't know. But when I sit down to write, that's what comes out.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When it first came out, was it a hit? Was it a holiday hit? Or did it take a while before.

[Brenda Lee]

It took a minute? Yes, it did.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And that's surprising because usually a song has its biggest when it's released, usually has a shot, and then if it doesn't hit, it's kind of done.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, well, especially back in those days. But no, it wasn't. I mean, it was played. But I'll tell you, when it really took off, one of my friends called Me one night and said, brenda, have you seen the movie Home Alone? And I said, no. They said, well, your song's all over it. And I said, which song? And they said rockin. And that was really the catalyst that brought it to where it is.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So that means it had to have been out 25 or 30 years before the Home Alone, right?

[Brenda Lee]

Probably, yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And you're right, I guess even for me, that was when I. And I was a kid. Yeah, that was my introduction to that.

[Brenda Lee]

Song I'll Be Darn.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So you grew up as a young, young kid in Atlanta? Correct.

[Brenda Lee]

Mm.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you ever have roots in Atlanta? Cause I feel like you were traveling so much so young.

[Brenda Lee]

I was actually. I lived in a little town called Lithonia, which is maybe 18 miles from Atlanta, and I used to do a show called John Farmer and the TV Ranch Boys. And that was out of Atlanta.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So you would drive into Atlanta, Would your parents take you?

[Brenda Lee]

Uh huh. My mom would take me. My dad died when I was very young. And then there was a big huge ballroom at that time called the Sports Arena. People would go there and dance and they. It was just a really fun place. And I used to sing there every Saturday night with the band from the TV station.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Where did your music passion come from?

[Brenda Lee]

I don't know. I've often wondered that myself. My mother could sing, but it wasn't like she sang to me or sang all the time. We had a little radio and I remember my daddy, he. He loved the Yankees, mama loved the Dodges, so they would keep enough battery where they could do that, and then I could listen to my music. So I started listening really early.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And you think hearing your favorite songs and hearing the, I'm assuming AM radio, that's what motivated you to start singing. Did you have a bunch of friends? Because I feel like I watch a lot of TV because I don't have any friends. Like that's why. I think that's kind of why I'm funny now too, is because I didn't.

[Bobby Bones]

Have a whole lot of friends.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

But so I had to develop that. If you're listening to a lot of music, would you just sit at the radio and listen and memorize songs and sing along and was that what you would do in the evenings?

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, I loved it. I. I had friends. You know, I was in regular school and I had friends, but it was, it was just. Well, you probably know it's something that drew, drew you and you really had no control over it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And when you tell your mom you want to sing Publicly. What is, what is her reaction and how does she immediately help you try to.

[Brenda Lee]

Absolutely, yeah. I think they saw the talent, so especially my mama. My dad died when I was really young and I think she saw the talent and she saw the want in me to want to do it. She was not the kind of person or mother that would say, okay, you gotta sing tonight, blah blah, blah. She wasn't that at all.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So she didn't push you to do it?

[Brenda Lee]

No, not at all.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

But she encouraged you to follow your passion?

[Brenda Lee]

Absolutely.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And how did she do that at first?

[Brenda Lee]

Well, radio. She let me listen to what I wanted to listen to on radio. And then there was a place called the Sports arena in Atlanta. It was like I said, big old, huge ballroom.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

But how did she get you on stage there? Like what?

[Brenda Lee]

She just asked. She was very brazen. She would say, my little girl can really sing. Would you let her sing tonight? And finally the band said, yeah. And I did and I became a regular Saturday night singer. I was 10 years old.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Were you ever full of stage fright at that age or did it feel so natural?

[Brenda Lee]

It just felt natural.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What singers did you like as a young kid that you would emulate?

[Brenda Lee]

I don't know that I emulated anybody, but I loved Hank Williams. I think he was probably my favorite. I love Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker, Ella Fitzgerald. I loved all the older singers. Not that they were old then, but they were older than me and I got to meet all of them and that was a dream come true. And I just liked. I never could identify with kitschy songs. I liked the good songs.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You liked the mature adult songs.

[Brenda Lee]

I did.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Which had to be a little weird for a kid to like the mature adult songs.

[Brenda Lee]

And. And everybody wondered, well, why do you like those? You're 10 years old. I said, I don't know, but I do.

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This is the Bobby cast.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

How long did you perform in Georgia before you started to travel around?

[Brenda Lee]

We moved to. Okay. We were playing the Fox Theater, and Red Foley came to town, and somehow or another, he let me sing a song on the show. And at that time, he was the host of the Ozark Jubilee out of Springfield, Missouri, and he asked if I would like to come and do the show. And of course, we said yes. So it wound up we moved there, and I became a regular.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So you moved to Missouri.

[Brenda Lee]

Mm.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

How'd you like that? Do you remember it?

[Brenda Lee]

I do. I liked Missouri. It was fun. And I was doing absolutely what I love to do. Going to school, too. Mama always made me go to school. It wasn't like, oh, she sings. She, you know. No, that wasn't the case.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Your mom moved for you?

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Jacob Goldstein (Odoo Advertiser)]

Wow.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, she really did.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Like, looking back now, is there a gratefulness to somebody who had sacrificed?

[Brenda Lee]

I couldn't, of course, I couldn't be here without her, but I couldn't be who I am without her either, because she was my best publicity person, my best. Okay, you can do this. She was my everything in my singing.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When did you start to come to Nashville?

[Brenda Lee]

I came to Nashville when I was. I think I was 11 or 12.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So that was pretty quick then.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So you're singing in Georgia at 10.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You're in Missouri at 11.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And about a year later, you're in Nashville.

[Brenda Lee]

Yep.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Do you move here, or do you come here at first just to kind of see what it's about?

[Brenda Lee]

We came, but we moved really quick.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Why?

[Brenda Lee]

Well, because there was more opportunity. There was more interest. People weren't afraid to record a child thinking their voice might change. And you put all that energy and finance into it, and then it turns out their voice changes and they're not good anymore.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You know, I never thought about that, but I can tell that was actually a thing by how you're describing it. So there must have been reluctance then, to invest in you as a kid, because they Thought as you grew, your voice would change and maybe you would not be able to sing.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And that's what they would say. So who believed in you then? To invest in you and go, I still believe that even if there is a voice change, she'll be great.

[Brenda Lee]

Red Foley.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So the same. Same Red Foley.

[Brenda Lee]

Same Red Foley.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What do you think he saw in you?

[Brenda Lee]

Goodness, nobody's ever asked me that question. I think the thing he really saw me, in me, was the need. The need to be able to. To help my family financially and the need to be able to sing. I love to sing.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you start to feel a pressure at 11, 12, 13 years old to support your family?

[Brenda Lee]

No.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You never felt the pressure? It was never put on you?

[Brenda Lee]

No.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you feel like you needed to do even if there wasn't a pressure? Do you feel like that's something you wanted to do?

[Brenda Lee]

Yes, always.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Why?

[Brenda Lee]

I mean, I don't know. I would have sang for nothing. You know, the money was just good, too. But I just love to sing, always. And where that came from, I have no clue.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When you moved to Nashville and recorded, did you soon start touring regionally or nationally?

[Brenda Lee]

All over the world. All over the world.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

See, I don't like flying now.

[Brenda Lee]

I don't either.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

I can't imagine flying over the ocean.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, you know, when you're 12.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Yeah, that's true.

[Brenda Lee]

You know, and you don't think about that. I don't like it now, so I don't go as much as I used to.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So you go all over the world?

[Brenda Lee]

All over the world.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you feel safe as a kid, singer?

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. My mom was with me, my manager, so, yeah. And the band guys would protect me. I was like their little sister. Sometimes they protected me too much.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Like a little sister?

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. Like, I couldn't get into any trouble.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When did you play the Opry for the first time?

[Brenda Lee]

I was 10 years old, so that would have been 54 or 55 when we moved to Nashville. I just went to the opera, just.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Seamlessly slid in at the Ryman. Any other performers that you listened to or liked in that first year so that you're playing the Opry? That they would play the Opry, and you'd think it was cool to be able to see them.

[Brenda Lee]

I loved Patsy Cline. Loved her, loved her heart, loved her talent, loved her generosity. She was not affected at all by the industry. I loved that about her. And she just kind of took me under her wing, as did Dottie west. And we were friends forever.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you ever get to See Hank senior at the Opry, because I know he, you know, got in some trouble, and they were like, hey, don't come back around here no more. But did you ever get to see Hank senior at the Opry?

[Brenda Lee]

I did one time.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And how was that experience?

[Brenda Lee]

A dream, really, because, you know, I sang all his songs and had hits with a lot of them, and to meet the guy that wrote them, it's surreal, almost.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And he had to be in his early 20s, right? Young at that point.

[Brenda Lee]

Very young.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What about Elvis?

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, Elvis was a trip. I loved Elvis, but he. He was. He was almost like a pretend person because he was so good, you couldn't believe he was real. He was sweet, but he was firm. He knew what he wanted, knew what he liked. He. He wouldn't really. If he really, truly believed in it, don't try to convince him of something else, because that's what he was going to do.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you see him in town much in Nashville?

[Brenda Lee]

Not a whole lot. Went to his sessions and watched. And. And that's. That's back. Gosh, late 50s. That's back when we didn't have all the knobs to turn to make you.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Sound so good, so you had to sound good. That's what was being.

[Brenda Lee]

You either sounded good or you were asked to leave.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

He was really good.

[Brenda Lee]

Really good.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Pure voice.

[Brenda Lee]

Pure voice. No knob turning, no nothing. That was him.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Who else lived here that you were excited to see or run into? Because I had those people when I moved here.

[Brenda Lee]

Did you?

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

Yeah, for sure.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

I moved here, and it was. You know, for me, it was all the guys, like the Chestnuts and all those late 80s and 90s guys.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And so, you know, listen to the radio my whole life growing up, and listen to the station out of Little Rock, Arkansas, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. And when I moved here, that Joe Diffie, I got to spend a lot.

[Brenda Lee]

Of time with Joe. I love Joe.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Yeah. And I got to know him pretty well before he died. Like, we would spend time together because we'd perform, I think, where we got to know each other the best was performing together at the Opry. Not at the same time, but we'd be on the same night multiple times.

[Brenda Lee]

Wow.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And so, you know how it is with the Opry. The doors are just open.

[Brenda Lee]

They are.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And you just spend time with the people that are there.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And so for me, that was exciting to get to see. Like, the Diffies, Kicks Brooks, my first time ever playing the Opry, came into the room and was like, this is what we do here I'm kicks, and I'm like, you're Brooks and Dunn.

[Bobby Bones]

This is crazy.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So I wonder, like, those. Those stories for you? Cause I had my version of that. Yeah, Sounds like you did too.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, I did. It was like I was like the little sister, you know, And Dottie West.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And were you the youngest by far? Were you the youngest kid?

[Brenda Lee]

But Dottie West, Tammy, Patsy, all the greats, they just took me under their wing, and I just loved them.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When you were 12 and you signed a record deal, how much did you understand what was happening with the business and how much do you think your mom understood with the business?

[Brenda Lee]

My mom was pretty savvy. All I knew is, I want to sing and I want to be heard, and if this is my avenue to do it and they'll let me do it, I'm all in.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Did you ever sign one of those deals that maybe wasn't the best deal, and you learn later that what you.

[Brenda Lee]

Had signed, I had really. I was lucky because I. I had people around me. Not that many, but I did have people that truly cared and loved me, which wasn't always the case with. With artists.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Yeah. It seems like with young artists as well. Like.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Oh, yeah, they're pretty vulnerable.

[Brenda Lee]

They are businesses.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

They are personal. But it seems like you have a pretty good experience because you had good people around you.

[Brenda Lee]

Yes. That truly cared about me, that weren't just in it for the buck and whatever. They really cared about me, starting with Red Foley.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When you would sing. I'm sorry, would the whole crowd sing it back? Was that a monster?

[Brenda Lee]

Sometimes.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Is that the coolest thing?

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, that was cool. What was cool to me was if you started a song and they started. It was like, oh, Lord, this really was a good song because you don't expect it. You know you want it, but you. At least I never did. I never expected it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Growing up in a small town in the south and then living in the Midwest, a bed in Nashville, that type of person, it's pretty similar. But when you're traveling the continental United States and you're in a Boston, you're in a California, and you're going, wow, they. Or you're in Japan and you're going, I can. This is so weird. They know my songs.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

I mean, that had to happen to you pretty young. There are people that you're not like at all that love you and know your music.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It had to feel strange, but yet amazing.

[Brenda Lee]

It was, like, surreal. I remember the first time I went to Japan, I was maybe 14, maybe. And we landed at the airport, and all these young kids were standing out there and they had these little hats on, and it said B. Lfc. And I thought, oh, Lord, somebody's coming in. Because I'm just such. I love all that. And I thought. So when I got off the plane, it meant Brenda Lee Fan Club. And I was like, oh. Because I. I never dreamed I was known over there.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

How do you think you became so well known in Japan, specifically?

[Brenda Lee]

Well, I sang in their language. Plus, I spoke in their language, but I sang in English, too. And I went every year to let them know I appreciated their support. And that's.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

They reciprocated it.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. Big way. In a big way.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

When did you start to learn Japanese?

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

When?

[Brenda Lee]

Let's see. I. Well, I went over there the first time because I had a big hit in Japan. My first big hit was One Rainy Night in Tokyo. So Owen Bradley, my producer, he said, you know what would be good? If you sing half in English and half in Japanese. And that's what I did. And they loved it. And all of a sudden, I'm invited to tour. And I went, gosh, I bet I went 40 times.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

Wow.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You've been to Japan at least? I've been once, and I was blown away.

[Brenda Lee]

Isn't it great?

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It's great. It's so great. It's clean, it's safe.

[Brenda Lee]

Yes.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

People are kind. There are no trash cans because there's no litter. And if you have trash, you just keep it until you get to it. It's unbelievable.

[Brenda Lee]

And if you go into a department store or a drugstore or any store for that matter, and you're lost, they'll take you to where you're supposed to go. They'll say in their language, they'll take your hand. Now, I don't know if they still do that, but that's what they did. When I was going every year, I.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Also felt like I was seven feet tall. And that was awesome.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, yeah. I felt right at home.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So you put out the Brenda Lee Greatest Hits. It's digital. People can stream it. It's also on vinyl. Why? Why the Greatest Hits? Why now?

[Brenda Lee]

I don't know. The label thought it was a good thing to do, and I was proud that they thought enough to do it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

A couple things that I would think. One is this, obviously rocking around the Christmas tree went number one again. But also, I'm sorry, went completely viral.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

TikTok, what is old is new? As old as new is old is new again.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And so that that song was getting millions and millions of streams. Let's take a quick pause for a message from our sponsor.

[Bobby Bones]

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[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

This is where mindset comes in.

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Someone will be eliminated.

[Booking.com/TJ Maxx Advertiser]

Pressure is coming down.

[Trainer Games/Podcast Sponsor Announcer]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com this is.

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[Trainer Games/Podcast Sponsor Announcer]

For the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt from renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. This then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment, investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures [e-mail] Disclosures A new year.

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[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And we're back on the Bobbycast. The Beatles open for you. I read that.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Must have been. I don't know. It had to be the 50s, right?

[Brenda Lee]

Late 50s, early 60s.

[Bobby Bones]

Yeah.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

How.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

How did that come together? Did your man, your mom, or.

[Brenda Lee]

No, it was a big tour. There was Dusty Springfield, me, the Beatles.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What were they at the time? At this time we're talking about specifically? I'm assuming they're very young and not very young.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. And really kind of like, I don't know, not polished, not just raw. But I saw the greatness in them and you would have, too.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And this is pre Ed Sullivan.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, yeah. So I go back to New York and I go to my label, which was deca, which is now mca, which I'm still on same contract. And I said, I took a picture of them and they look like your normal Teddy boy would look. And I took a little tape and I'll never forget they walked in rank and file like they do, and it got through playing and it was very quiet and I thought, well, this could be bad, could be good. And I said, okay, what do you think? And the President stood up and said, brenda, we're very proud that you brought this in, but this look will never happen and this sound won't either. Next year they were playing the Ballpark Stadium, filling it up like Shea Stadium.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

Wow.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And when you saw them the first time, was Ringo with them or was it still Pete Best?

[Brenda Lee]

But Pete was with them, but then Ringo came right along. So I've. I've worked with the.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You've been there through all of it?

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

That's exciting. Do you ever listen back to any year old music that like every once in a while put something on you haven't thought about in a long time?

[Brenda Lee]

I do. I listen back to like when I started at 10 and I sound like Mickey Mouse on steroids. And I thought, oh my Lord. But I was 10.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What would you tell that kid now?

[Brenda Lee]

I would tell him, if that's what you want to do, you don't give up. People might give up on you, but don't you give up on you.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And you would tell that to yourself as well. That's the advice you'd give to yourself because.

[Brenda Lee]

And I didn't know if I was good or not. I just knew I loved it and that's what I wanted to do.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So were you able to be a support for any other artists like Patsy and you know, you listed all those wonderful women in the history of country music. Were you able to do that with any artists? Yeah, kind of repay that.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. And it was fun. And I don't know how to put this, but today with all the mechanical stuff they have to use, you don't know if they're singing or not.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You're absolutely right.

[Brenda Lee]

Even I don't. And I can usually tell same. So if somebody asked me an opinion on somebody new, I just have to say, I don't know.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

There's. We're lucky that we can take live performances off of like somebody's phone or YouTube because there'll be people that want to come up and do my show and perform. And we've not checked if they could. We've just listened to the, like that. The studio version and they come in and then maybe they're not as good. So what we do now is we'll do like super research and try to go find some like natural grin.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Just to hear if they can really sing. Because when you get in the studio, obviously like you said, you can make anybody sound pretty good. You can write a good song, make.

[Bobby Bones]

Them sound pretty good.

[Brenda Lee]

There you Go, hey, that's how it's done.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

That's what I need to wish. They do that to me, make me sound good. When you listen back to the songs from like the 50s, 60s, can you kind of hear the person you were? Like, if you hear a song, for example, losing you early 60s, you're not old by any means, but you're a little older.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, I'm a little older.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Can you kind of hear that song and put yourself back to where you were?

[Brenda Lee]

I can. Because. As a teenager in those years, I wasn't allowed to date and, or anything like that. So all I had was my music and that was my heart beat. And I don't. I never had the thought, oh, I'm. I'm doing this because I'm going to be a big success. I was doing it because I loved it and it was my company. It was something that I could always turn to that I knew would be there and it wouldn't change. And that's why I loved it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What's your favorite song you've ever recorded?

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, gosh. Owen Bradley was such a genius and I had such wonderful songwriters. I mean, they're, they're writing great songs today too, don't get me wrong, but they're not writing great ballads. And, you know, when you and I had a lot of foreign ballads like I Want To Be Wanted and Losing you and those kind of songs were overseas songs. So it was the. A team of musicians, it was Owen, it was Selby Coffin, the engineer, it was the Anita Kerr Singers, it was Brenton Banks and his strings. It was a family, which doesn't happen today. And that's why I stopped recording, because.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It felt more like a business or a machine than a family.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, I mean, if you can't. I've been in the studio and I'm just thinking, it's going great and I'm singing good and all. And one of the musicians may say, hey, everybody stop. Because they heard a clunker that I didn't hear. And that's how it was back then. If you did that today, you wouldn't be working that session anymore. But it was a cohesive thing between everybody. Everybody wanted to be good, wanted it to be good. And I think that's the difference in today and 60s today.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Maybe mercenaries are brought in just to go and do the job and get out, get to the next session more.

[Brenda Lee]

Than you got it.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Invest themselves into the art.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, that's true.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You still like music. You still like just listening to music. What do you like to do.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, I love music.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

You get to, like, just pick whatever you want to listen to. What do you pick now?

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, Lord. Well, my scope of musicians is a little bit weird. I like everybody from Ozzy to Frank Sinatra. You know, I'm all out there because I hear different things with different people, and I try to figure out, too, okay, why was that a hit? Why was that a. And of course, it all boils back to y', all, too. Artists can't do anything unless you play it. I mean, they can, but it's probably gonna lay on a table or lay somewhere. So it's. To me, we're all a family. We're all like, I want you to do good. You want me to do good. It behooves you. It behooves me. And it's not thought of that way today in the industry, and it saddens me.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

I have two final questions. Not your song, but what's your favorite song of all time? If you had to pick a favorite song, it can't be yours.

[Brenda Lee]

That's too hard.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It's too hard. You can give me a couple, and I'll vamp for you, Meaning I'll give you a couple mine while you think about yours. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is one of my favorites.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, that's a great song.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Just, it's. It's perfect. Oh, so. And I love ballads. I'm big ballet guy.

[Brenda Lee]

I am, too.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Because I can hear the words. I can experience. Yeah. I feel like I can really experience them.

[Brenda Lee]

But I'm one of those girls, too. When I was in France, of course, I didn't speak French when I first went over, but I heard this song, and it was Love Be Lovable, Hue Les Avignaud. And I thought, I really like that. And I'd go up and down the sidewalk singing that song. And finally somebody tapped me on the shoulder because I was, like, 13, and they said, don't sing that. And I said, why? I like it. They said, you're singing about a toilet. What was this song?

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What was this that even know what the toilet.

[Brenda Lee]

I don't know, but they said, you're singing about the toilet on the corner.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

I said, oh, well, the melody must have been good.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah, it was. I loved it. Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Okay, Last favorite song of all time. What is it? That's not yours. You got to pick one.

[Brenda Lee]

Not mine.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Not yours.

[Brenda Lee]

Oh, Lord, that's too hard.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

No, it's really hard. You don't have to commit to it, but you can just say one now.

[Brenda Lee]

Okay. Oh, gosh over the rainbow.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Judy Garland.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. I finally got to meet her.

[Bobby Bones]

How old were you?

[Brenda Lee]

Thirteen.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And what was the experience? Give me. Walk me through it.

[Brenda Lee]

I followed her to the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

What do you mean you followed her?

[Brenda Lee]

I mean, I was next to perform. She was laying out by the pool, and I thought, okay, this is my chance.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

How old was she at the time?

[Brenda Lee]

Judy was probably early, late 20s, early 30s. I thought, if I don't go now, I'll probably never see her again in my life. So I just brazenly walk up And I said, Ms. Garland, my name is Brenda Lee and I am a huge, huge fan. You cannot believe how you have influenced what I do. If you had one piece of advice to give me, what would that be? And she didn't skip a beat. And she said, don't let them take away your childhood.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Probably because a lot of hers was taken away.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. So that's a memory I'll never forget.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It's really kind of her to not just brush you off and actually give you.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah. Give me a kernel of wonderful advice.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Brenda Lee's Greatest Hits. It's. You can stream it. You get the vinyl. The vinyl is always really cool to have. It has. I'm sorry. It has sweet nothings. It has. I Want to be wanted. 11 of the tracks on the album were in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. You are a. A joy to be around.

[Brenda Lee]

Thank you.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

My. My friend and I, Brett, who lives over. He's an artist, too. His name's Brett Eldridge. He sings Christmas songs.

[Brenda Lee]

I know who Brett is.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Making sure we would always see you drive around. And we would be like, we just saw Brenda driving. That was kind of our way of like, checking in on each other. We just saw Brenda Lee driving around, so we'd always see you driving around.

[Brenda Lee]

I love that. Tell him.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Hey, I definitely will now.

[Brenda Lee]

You know, I'm Southern. Hey.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

That's right. Thank you so much. Congratulations on all your very recent success, too.

[Brenda Lee]

Well, thank you.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

It's really. It's.

[Brenda Lee]

It's really amazing.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Refreshing to see that you went viral again and you had a number one song.

[Brenda Lee]

Yeah.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

And that is.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

That's.

[Brenda Lee]

Who knew?

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Who knew?

[Brenda Lee]

After all these years. After all these years, that's what you. That's what gets you in this business, because you don't know what's coming.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

That's true.

[Brenda Lee]

And it's the. It's. It's the wanting to know that just keeps you there.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Yeah. I'm a big fan. Thank you so much.

[Brenda Lee]

Thank you so much.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

I love this 30, 40 minutes we just spent together. Thank you.

[Brenda Lee]

And I love it too. All right. Thank you.

[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Thanks for listening to a Bobby Cast production.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones here. When you're traveling with family, it can be a circus. Mom wakes up at 5am Nephew stay up till midnight and your dog, he just wants a yard to play in. Booking.com makes it easy to find a stay that's right for everyone, whether it's a vacation rental or a space to spread out or a hotel where someone else makes the breakfast. Find exactly what you're booking for booking.com booking yeah, that's booking.com booking yeah.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

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[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

Holiday season's here and the studio is feeling festive. We got the tracks, the exclusives Yes's Bright Winter Spice Cranberry Bien Frio that.

[Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Advertiser]

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[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

So don't sleep on it to keep your fiestas festive. Adarle Flo Frio con Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry Obey your thirst. We finally switched to T Mobile because with them we can be connected here and there. Dad, the cousins in Mexico have a surprise prize for you and enjoy the gift of staying connected. Switch and start saving today. Get four Samsung Galaxy S25 phones with Galaxy AI on us and four lines for just 25 bucks per line plus.

[Trainer Games/Podcast Sponsor Announcer]

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[Bobby Bones (Interviewer)]

See details@t mobile.com what do you do.

[Pluvicto Advertiser]

When things get tough? You don't give up. You stand your ground. If you've been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and have tried hormone therapy, ask your doctor about Lutetium leu177 bipipatide tetrexitan. Pluvicto is not chemotherapy. It's a different treatment that targets PSMA positive cells. Pluvicto can be used before chemotherapy for some people. Pluvicto is a prescription treatment used to treat adults with prostate specific membrane antigen positive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer or PSMA positive MCRPC who have already been treated with hormone therapy and are considered appropriate to delay chemotherapy. Bluvicto involves contact with radioactivity which may increase the risk for cancer and cause fetal harm. Drink plenty of fluids, urinate often, use contraception and talk to your doctor about ways to reduce the risk of exposing others to radiation. During and after treatment, Pluvicto can cause low levels of blood cell counts, kidney problems and infertility. Tell your doctor if you have weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, bleeding or bruising more easily, an infection or changes in urination. Side effects include decreased blood cell counts, tiredness, dry mouth, nausea, appetite loss, joint or back pain and constipation. Ask your doctor about pluvicto, because every day without cancer progression is a victory. Visit vuvicto.com to learn more.

[Booking.com/TJ Maxx Advertiser]

Okay, so there's nice and there's luxury. The Delta 1 experience is all about luxury. It's the extra touches and personalization. If you've experienced it, you know. If you haven't, well you deserve to. You deserve to relax in the comfort of Delta one lounges. You need to enjoy the chef curated meals during flights and the comfort of spacious 180 degree lie flat seats. If there's one thing I know, it's that everyone needs to experience Delta One. Learn more about the Delta One [e-mail] Delta One this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.