It's been 65 years since a then-13-year-old Brenda Lee recorded "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree." 

This week, it reached #1 on Billboard's coveted Hot 100, making the 78-year-old Lee the oldest artist to ever reach the Top of the Pops and her first #1 since 1960! 

"Lee is 78 years young; her new Hot 100 coronation will add to her birthday celebration Dec. 11. She becomes the senior-most artist to top the chart, surpassing Louis Armstrong, who was 62 when “Hello, Dolly!” led in 1964. Among women, Lee passes the likewise busy Cher, who was 52 when “Believe” ruled the Hot 100.

"In a bit of time-bending, while Lee is currently 78, again, the highest age for an artist atop the Hot 100, she was 13 when she recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”; if the song had led when she was that age, she’d be the youngest woman to have reached No. 1. Little Peggy March remains the youngest woman to have led the list – at the time of a song hitting No. 1 – as the singer (now 75) was 15 when “I Will Follow Him” ruled in 1963.”
 
Years ago, I interviewed Johnny Marks, who wrote the iconic tune. He told me he composed it while sitting on a beach in the middle of July. So much for getting into the Xmas spirit! (He also turned out another Yule classic - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. High Marks for Johnny!)

Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ Tops Hot 100, 65 Years After Its Release