We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Brenda Lee, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating tidbits about the singer and musician that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: She Was Miscredited on Her First Two Decca Singles. Lee was credited as “Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old)” on her first two singles with Decca Records. However, considering her singles were released in 1956, she was 11 – going on 12 – at the time.
Number Seven: She Set a Record That Was Later Broken by Madonna. Lee released nine consecutive top 10 Billboard hits between the years of 1960 and 1962, setting a record in terms of female solo artists. She held that record until 1986 when it was broken by Madonna.
Number Six: Her Biggest-Selling Song Is a Christmas Song. When Lee was 13, she recorded the now-iconic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Though it did not do very well right when it was released, it would go on to sell more than five million copies.
Number Five: She Made it in the U.K. Before the U.S. Despite the fact that Lee was born and raised in the United States, she actually gained popularity in the United Kingdom before she was popular in the states. She toured the U.K. in 1959.
Number Four: The Beatles Opened for Her. Yes, you read that right. The Beatles opened for Brenda Lee – not the other way around. They opened for her when she was touring the U.K. in the early 1960s.
Number Three: She Has Only Been Married Once. Lee got married in 1963, and she is still married to him today! Her husband, Ronnie Shacklett, is credited for assuring her long-term financial success. She has two daughters with him, named Jolie and Julie.
Number Two: She Has Been in the Industry for Longer Than 50 Years. Though anybody with a calculator and the internet can figure this fact out, it’s still extremely impressive on its own.
Number One: Chuck Berry Wrote a Song About Her. Berry wrote a song about Lee on his album titled St. Louis to Liverpool. How about that?