Most people have hummed “rocking around the “Christmas” tree” a hundred times. Few know the singer was only 13 years old when she recorded it. What started as a flop in 1958 is now one of the best-selling Christmas singles ever. This guide covers who sang it, who wrote it, and how to play it.
Quick Answer
Johnny Marks wrote “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958, and 13-year-old Brenda Lee recorded it. The song describes a lively holiday dance party with mistletoe, caroling, and pumpkin pie. Guitar and piano players commonly play it in the key of C or G.
What Is “Rocking Around the “Christmas” Tree” About?
The song paints a scene of a teenage Christmas party. Couples dance around the tree, mistletoe hangs in plain sight, and everyone pairs off during the “party hop.” It also references caroling and pumpkin pie. That gives it the feel of a classic mid-century holiday gathering rather than a religious carol.
Furthermore, the upbeat, rockabilly arrangement separates it from slower Christmas standards. Despite the title, its instrumentation leans country as much as rock. That crossover appeal is part of why it still gets airplay across multiple radio formats today.
Who Sings/Sang Rocking Around the Christmas Tree?
Johnny Marks wrote the song, and Brenda Lee originally recorded it in 1958. Lee’s version remains the definitive one. By its 50th anniversary in 2008, her recording had sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, and radio stations still play it most every holiday season.
People often ask “who sang rocking around the Christmas tree” or “who sings” it today. Either way, the answer is Brenda Lee fans nicknamed her “Little Miss Dynamite.” Dozens of artists have since covered it, including Kelly Clarkson, LeAnn Rimes, and Justin Bieber. None has replaced the original on the charts, though.
Who Wrote and Made Rocking Around the Christmas Tree?
Johnny Marks wrote the song. He specialized in Christmas music and also wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” Interestingly, Marks himself was Jewish and did not celebrate Christmas, which makes his run of holiday standards even more notable.
Lee later recalled that Marks started writing the song while lying on a beach among pine trees. That’s likely why it carries a breezy, party-hop energy instead of a solemn carol feel. In short, Johnny Marks is the sole songwriter behind “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.“
When Was Rocking Around the “Christmas Tree “Made and How Old Is It?
Brenda Lee recorded the song on October 19, 1958, at Bradley Studios in Nashville. Decca released it on November 24, 1958. That makes the song roughly 68 years old as of the 2026 holiday season.
Additionally, the song didn’t succeed right away. Its first pressing sold only about 5,000 copies, and a second release the following Christmas also failed to chart. Lee became a recognized star in 1960. That’s when the song finally caught on, climbing to No.
14 on the Billboard chart. Its biggest resurgence came decades later. The 1990 film “Home Alone” used the song in a party scene, and Lee has said she believes that film pushed it into the mainstream. The song even hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2023, 65 years after its original release.
Who Recorded Rocking Around the “Christmas” Tree The Session Details
Brenda Lee wasn’t backed by just any band. Nashville’s top studio players filled out the original session:
- Hank Garland and Harold Bradley — guitar
- Floyd Cramer — piano
- Boots Randolph — saxophone
- Bob Moore — bass
- Buddy Harman — drums
- Anita Kerr Singers — backing vocals
That famous sax solo people search for (“rocking around the Christmas tree sax solo”) is Boots Randolph’s work.
Lee was only 13 during the session. She sang lead alongside a full team of adult studio veterans, produced by Owen Bradley, who reportedly decorated the studio with a real Christmas tree for the recording.
What Key Is Rocking Around the Christmas Tree In?
Publishers originally released the song in C major — you’ll find this version on official Musicnotes listings. Most guitar players prefer G major instead. It uses simple open chords (G, Em, C, D7, Am7) that are easier to strum at a party or campfire.
If you’re playing along with the 1958 recording, expect the pitch near C major. Most online guitar chord charts transpose it to G instead. Either way, the chord structure follows a simple I–vi–IV–V pattern that beginners can pick up quickly.
How to Play Rocking Around the “Christmas” Tree (Guitar & Piano)
You don’t need advanced skills to play this one. It repeats a simple four-chord loop that beginners can learn in under an hour.
- Guitar (key of G): G, Em, C, D7, with Am7 appearing in the verses and Bm/Em in the bridge.
- Piano: The same I–vi–IV–V7 shape works in C major (C, Am, F, G7), matching the song’s originally published key.
- Strumming pattern: A simple down-down-up-down-up pattern at a moderate tempo captures the rockabilly bounce.
- Alto sax: The famous solo sits in a comfortable mid-range and is a popular pick for intermediate players building a [Christmas party playlist].
Want a note-accurate version instead of a fan transcription? Buy the official arrangement. Quality varies a lot between free tab sites.
Rocking Around the “Christmas” Tree Sheet Music, Tabs, and Chords Where to Get Them Right
St. Nicholas Music administers this copyrighted song. Free “tabs” floating around the internet are often inaccurate or incomplete. For reliable guitar, piano, or sax arrangements, use licensed platforms like Musicnotes or Sheet Music Direct. They sell publisher-approved versions in both the original C major and the guitar-friendly G major.
Just want quick reference chords for a sing-along? A simple G–Em–C–D7 loop (or C–Am–F–G7 on piano) covers the whole song, verses and bridge included.
Best For X vs. Best For Y: Choosing How to Enjoy the Song
| Use Case | Best Pick | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Karaoke or sing-along | Brenda Lee’s 1958 original | Most recognizable version; instantly familiar to guests |
| Acoustic guitar at a party | G major chord chart | Uses simple open chords, easy for beginners |
| Kids’ or teen talent show | Victoria Justice or Ingrid Michaelson covers | Lighter, contemporary pop arrangements |
| Formal sheet music/recital | Licensed C major arrangement | Matches the original published key and is publisher-verified |
Notable Covers People Also Search For
Several modern covers regularly come up in searches. Ingrid Michaelson recorded a gentler, indie-pop take that trades the rockabilly horns for acoustic warmth. Victoria Justice released her own version aimed at a younger audience, closer to a teen-pop arrangement.
Meanwhile, a viral clip of a 13-year-old singer covering the song keeps drawing comparisons to Brenda Lee’s own age when she first recorded it. That’s why “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree 13 year old” keeps trending in search.
Final Thoughts
“Rocking around the Christmas tree” has outlasted almost every other Christmas single from its era. Its journey from a flop single to a 2023 Billboard No. 1 proves it.
Whether you’re learning the chords or just curious who’s singing, the answer always comes back to a 13-year-old from Georgia and one legendary Nashville session. Put it on at your next [Christmas party ideas] gathering. Or better yet, pick up a guitar and learn the four chords yourself. It’s easier than it sounds, and it never gets old.
FAQs
Brenda Lee recorded the original version in 1958 when she was 13 years old. Her recording remains the most-played version on radio and streaming every holiday season.
Publishers originally released it in C major, though most guitar chord charts transpose it to G major for easier open-chord playing.
Lee recorded it in October 1958, making it roughly 68 years old heading into the 2026 holiday season.
Its first two releases in 1958 and 1959 barely sold. It only broke into the charts in 1960, once Brenda Lee had already become a recognized star.
No. It repeats a simple loop of chords (G, Em, C, D7, Am7 in the key of G). That makes it one of the more beginner-friendly Christmas songs to learn.
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