A festive revelation is sweeping social media, leaving fans of a beloved Christmas anthem utterly astounded. The timeless voice behind 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' belongs to a singer who was just 13 years old when she recorded the track.
The Viral Discovery That Stunned the Internet
While Christmas tunes fill shops and radios across the UK every December, one peculiar fact about a seasonal staple had escaped many listeners for decades. The classic song, released in 1958 in the United States, was written by Johnny Marks and recorded by the then-teenage sensation Brenda Lee. A video shared online by user Rory Eliza captured the moment of disbelief for many, showing her shocked reaction upon learning the singer's true age, accompanied by the caption: "I was today years old when I learned this is a 13-year-old and not a 60-year-old woman singing."
The comments flooded with similar astonishment. One social media user exclaimed, "WHAT!!!??? I always thought she was like 40-50 or something," while another pleaded, "I beg your finest pardon???" The mature, husky quality of Lee's voice on the original recording has long led audiences to assume the performer was a middle-aged woman, not a young teenager.
Unwrapping the History of a Christmas Phenomenon
'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' did not reach UK shores until 1962, four years after its American debut. Despite this, it cemented itself as a holiday essential. By the song's 50th anniversary in 2008, the original version had sold a staggering over 15 million copies globally and ranked as the fourth most-downloaded Christmas single.
Part of the modern confusion stems from a 1991 re-recording by Brenda Lee. When she revisited the song in her 40s, her voice had naturally deepened further. Many people hearing this later version on contemporary playlists mistakenly believe it to be the original. However, as fans have pointed out, even the 1958 recording features a remarkably deep and powerful vocal performance for a 13-year-old.
A Record-Breaking Legacy for a Timeless Track
The song's popularity has only grown with time. In 2023, a new music video was released featuring a 78-year-old Brenda Lee lip-syncing to her own teenage vocals at a festive party attended by stars like Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker. That same year, the track achieved a monumental feat, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
This achievement made Brenda Lee the oldest artist ever to reach number one on the chart at age 78. She promptly broke her own record a week later after celebrating her 79th birthday. In the United Kingdom, the song's peak position is an impressive number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. This enduring success story, from a teenage recording session to record-breaking charts six decades later, continues to surprise and delight fans each holiday season.
