Brenda Lee is a legendary American singer who is best known for her hit song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2023, 65 years after its original release. Lee is still alive and well, living in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband of 60 years, Ronnie Shacklett. She retired from public singing in 2017, but continues to enjoy music and spend time with her family and friends. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful singers of the 20th century, with a net worth of $20 million.
Who is Brenda Lee?
Brenda Lee was born Brenda Mae Tarpley on December 11, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia. She was the daughter of poor cotton mill workers, who died when she was young. She began singing at the age of three, and won a talent contest that led to her first radio appearance. She moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, with her mother and stepfather, where she sang on local shows and met country star Red Foley, who invited her to perform on his national TV show, Ozark Jubilee, in 1956.
Lee signed with Decca Records and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she worked with producer Owen Bradley, who helped shape her distinctive style of rockabilly, pop, country, and gospel. She recorded her first hit, “Dynamite”, in 1957, when she was only 12 years old, earning her the nickname “Little Miss Dynamite”. She was only 4 feet 9 inches tall, but had a powerful voice that could belt out high notes and convey emotion.
Lee became an international sensation in the 1960s, with songs like “Sweet Nothin’s”, “I’m Sorry”, “I Want to Be Wanted”, “Speak to Me Pretty”, “All Alone Am I”, and “Losing You”. She was the top female artist of the decade, according to Billboard, and one of the four artists who charted the most singles, behind Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Ray Charles. She also toured extensively around the world, and performed for several US presidents and foreign dignitaries. She was the first woman to be inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Brenda Lee’s Iconic Song: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
One of Lee’s most enduring songs is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, which she recorded in 1958, when she was 13 years old. The song was written by Johnny Marks, who also wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”. The song describes a festive scene of dancing, singing, and decorating a Christmas tree, with a rockabilly beat and a saxophone solo. Lee said that Bradley made the studio very cold and put up a Christmas tree to create the right mood for the recording.
The song did not become a hit until 1960, after Lee had established herself as a star. It then charted again in 1961 and 1962, and became a Christmas classic that is played every year on radio stations and streaming platforms. In 2023, the song reached the number one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Lee the oldest artist ever to top the chart, at the age of 78. The song also set the record for the longest period of time between an original release and its topping the Hot 100 (65 years), as well as the longest time between number-one singles by an artist (63 years, one month, and two weeks).
The song has been covered by many other artists, such as Kim Wilde, Mel Smith, Cyndi Lauper, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Miley Cyrus, and Alabama. It has also been featured in several movies and TV shows, such as Home Alone, Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July, Mean Girls, and The Office. In 2019, Lee was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for the song. In 2023, Lee released a music video for the song, featuring cameo appearances by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.
Where is Brenda Lee Now?
Brenda Lee retired from public singing in 2017, after performing for over six decades. She said that she wanted to spend more time with her family and friends, and enjoy her hobbies, such as gardening, cooking, and reading. She also said that she was grateful for her fans and her career, and that she still loved music.
Lee lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Ronnie Shacklett, whom she married in 1963. They have two daughters, Jolie and Julie, and three grandchildren, Taylor, Jordan, and Charley. Lee is a devout Christian, and attends the First Baptist Church in Nashville. She is also involved in several charitable causes, such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Brenda Lee’s Legacy and Net Worth
Brenda Lee is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful singers of the 20th century, with a legacy that spans genres, generations, and cultures. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time. She has also received numerous awards and honors, such as a Grammy Award, four NARM Awards, three NME Awards, five Edison Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy. She has been praised by critics and peers for her vocal range, versatility, and emotion.
Lee has also inspired and influenced many other singers, such as Elton John, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, k.d. lang, Martina McBride, and Kelly Clarkson. She has been cited as a pioneer of rockabilly, pop, and country music, and as a role model for women in the music industry. She has also been recognized for her contributions to American culture and history, and for her humanitarian work.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Brenda Lee has a net worth of $20 million, as of 2023. She has earned this wealth mainly from her record sales, royalties, and performances. She has also invested in real estate, and owns a mansion in Nashville, Tennessee, worth $4 million. She has also donated some of her money to various charities and causes.
Conclusion
Brenda Lee is a legendary American singer who is best known for her hit song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2023, 65 years after its original release. Lee is still alive and well, living in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband of 60 years, Ronnie Shacklett. She retired from public singing in 2017, but continues to enjoy music and spend time with her family and friends. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful singers of the 20th century, with a net worth of $20 million. She has left a lasting legacy in the music industry and in American culture, and has inspired and influenced many other artists.
