Brenda Lee made a very rare public appearance to sing her most well-known hit, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," during the 2023 All for the Hall benefit concert in Nashville on Tuesday night (Dec. 5).

The singer performed her song one day after learning it hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was released in 1958.

  • Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn and Trisha Yearwood also performed during the Country Music Hall of Fame benefit concert.
  • The 65 years between the release of Lee's holiday song and it peaking at No. 1 is a Billboard chart record.
  • Lee is a member of both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.

Fourteen artists or groups performed on Tuesday night, but Lee was the big surprise. She's retired from touring but makes occasional appearances to sing this song or support the Country Music Hall of Fame. For example, she helped induct Tanya Tucker into the Hall in October, and she has been on hand to announce inductees in recent years.

See video of her singing on Tuesday night in the seventh slide here:

Lee is 78 years old, making her the oldest artist ever to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100. The crowd at Bridgestone Arena loved her performance, and Urban and Gill clearly loved having her.

See photos from All for the Hall below. The more than $900,000 raised will support Country Music Hall of Fame music education initiatives.

2023 All for the Hall Pictures — Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Hardy + More!

Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Riley Green, Kelsea Ballerini and Trisha Yearwood were four of the contemporary country singers to take the stage for the 2023 version of All for the Hall, but if felt like Waylon Jennings, Joe Walsh, Alabama and James Taylor were right there alongside them.

Thirteen country stars performed an original and timeless cover that fit the "The Song Remembers When" theme on Tuesday night (Dec. 5) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Pictures and a set list are below. This year's show raised more than $900,000 to support the Country Music Hall of Fame's education programs.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

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