Brenda Lee breaks US chart record as Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree reaches Number 1

Brenda Lee's timeless Christmas classic Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree has broken a long-standing US chart record as it climbs to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Originally recorded and released in 1958, and reached a brand new previous US peak of Number 2 in 2019. With its ascent to Number 1, the track has set several records, as well as becoming Brenda's third overall US Number 1 single, and her first since 1960. 

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree has shattered the US all-time record for the longest climb to Number 1, taking 65 years in total from its release in 1958 to now. For context in the UK, Kate Bush holds this record, with 37 years between the release of Running Up That Hill and it reaching Number 1 in June 2022. 

Lee also sets the record for longest instance between a song's US chart debut and it's ascent to Number 1 - with Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree three days shy of 63 years of debuting on the Hot 100 for the first time. 

MORE: See all the contenders for the Official Christmas Number 1 2023

It becomes Lee's third US Number 1 hit - following I'm Sorry and I Want To Be Wanted, which both hit Number 1 in 1960 - and sets another record for the longest span between Number 1s, with 63 years and four months between I Want To Be Wanted and Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree topping the charts. 

UK chart followers will be remember, of course, that very recently The Beatles set this record as the act with the longest gap ever between Number 1 singles (54 years) – they last reached Number 1 with The Ballad of John and Yoko in 1969. They overtake Kate Bush’s 44 years between Wuthering Heights (1978) and Running Up That Hill (2022).

Lee also becomes the oldest act to ever top the US charts at 78 years young. For context in the UK, Sir Captain Tom Moore became the oldest-ever chart-topper here, aged 99 when he hit Number 1 in April 2020 with Michael Ball on You'll Never Walk Alone and also celebrated his 100th birthday during the week he topped the Official Singles Chart.

Somewhat surprisingly, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree also becomes only the third Christmas song to top the Billboard Hot 100 - following The Chipmunk Song by The Chipmunks and David Seville in 1958 and Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, which hit Number 1 for the first time in 2019.

Back across the Atlantic here in the UK, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree has also been growing in popularity during the digital era, breaking the Official Singles Chart Top 5 in 2021, before peaking at Number 4 last year. The track is already sitting at Number 14 as we speak, and is predicted to jump into the Top 10 on Friday.

Does this mean Brenda Lee could actually end up challenging UK festive chart heavyweights Wham!, Mariah Carey and The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl for Christmas Number 1? Stranger things have happened...

See the full list of 2023's Christmas Number 1 contenders, and follow @OfficialCharts for all the very latest exclusive Christmas Number 1 news. Join the conversation on social using the hashtag #XmasNo1.

The 2023 Christmas Number 1 race kicks off 15 December and runs through to 23.59pm, Thursday 21 December. The winner will be unveiled on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart from 4pm, Friday 22 December. The Official Christmas Singles and Albums Chart Top 100 will be published in full right here on OfficialCharts.com.