These days, Brenda Lee is synonymous with the timeless 1958 holiday hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” recorded when she was just 12. But during the 1960s, she was a global pop sensation, often compared to modern superstars like Taylor Swift.
At the height of her fame, Lee achieved back-to-back No. 1 hits in 1960 with “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to Be Wanted” while still in her teens. Early in the decade, she headlined a show in England where her opening act was none other than The Beatles, then known as The Silver Beatles.
In the new PBS American Masters documentary, Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around, the now 80-year-old singer reminisces about her early tours and the bond she formed with one of music’s most iconic bands.
“When I started touring in England, I was popular there before I ever was here,” Lee shares. “There was this group that opened for me known as The Silver Beatles, who became The Beatles.”
Among the Fab Four, Lee says she shared a special connection with John Lennon.
“John was my favorite Beatle,” she recalls. “I loved them all, but John was irreverent, had a great sense of humor, and was magical. He was a genie in the bottle, and he let me have the cork. John Lennon said I was the first female rocker.”
Country star Keith Urban praises this recognition in the film, noting, “John Lennon didn’t give out compliments easily. She absolutely deserves it.”
While Lee is often celebrated for her pop ballads and enduring Christmas classic, her roots in rockabilly are undeniable. Her 1959 hit “Sweet Nothin’s,” which Kanye West famously sampled in his 2013 song “Bound 2,” showcases her early rock edge.
Brenda Lee’s remarkable career has earned her spots in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Last year, after 65 years, her holiday anthem “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the oldest performer to achieve this feat at age 78.
Country legend Trisha Yearwood, who appears in the documentary, admires Lee’s longevity and storied history. “Not many people can say they hung out with The Beatles,” Yearwood notes.
Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around is available to stream on PBS.org through January 14.
