From Small Town to Superstar: The Explosive Rise of ‘Little Miss Dynamite’ Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee may not have the immediate recognition of some 1960s music stars, but when Christmas comes around, her iconic song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is sure to fill the air. At the age of 78, Lee, who first stepped onto the stage before she could even drive, remains a prominent figure in music, celebrated for her powerful vocals that led to “unprecedented international popularity” as the most successful female artist of the 1960s.

Standing at a mere 4 feet 9 inches, Lee’s voice belied her petite stature, capturing the hearts of fans when she was just 12 years old. Born Brenda May Tarpley in 1944, she began her musical journey in the late 1940s, gained immense popularity in the 1950s, and, over a career that commenced before she even left elementary school, topped the charts an impressive 55 times, earning her the title of the most successful female recording artist of the 1960s.

Lee faced early challenges when, at the tender age of eight, her father, a construction worker, tragically lost his life at work. This marked a turning point for the young Brenda, who, in the face of adversity, assumed the role of the family’s primary provider, a responsibility she took on after changing her last name to Lee.

Taking care of her younger brother, big sister, and mother—employed as a cotton mill worker—was not just a duty for Brenda Lee but something she truly wanted to do. At a young age, she found joy in making her first $20, knowing it could make a difference for her family. She expressed, “Even at that young age, I saw that helped our life. It put some food on the table. It helped, and I loved it.”

Born in Atlanta, Brenda Lee, often referred to as a “pioneer of early rock and roll” by the Georgia Encyclopedia, achieved “unprecedented international popularity in the 1960s.”

Despite her incredible success, Lee remains remarkably humble and credits those who played a part in her journey. When asked about being a legend, she responded, “I don’t think of myself that way! I’m just a girl who’s been really blessed to be doing what I’m doing, and there’s a lot of people who’ve sweated a lot of tears and put a lot of life’s work into me to be able to have my dream. So, if I’m a legend, then they’re legends, too.”

In 1956, Brenda Lee joined country star Red Foley for a show at the Bell Auditorium near her home in Augusta, where she delivered a powerful rendition of Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya.”

Brenda Lee’s career soared after being signed to appear on Red Foley’s Ozark Jubilee, a country music show, where her exceptional talent and sassy demeanor won the hearts of millions of viewers despite her young age of 12.

In the same year, Lee signed with Decca Records. The following year, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and skillfully fused country with rhythm and blues, marked by her unique hiccupping vocals. She recorded early rockabilly classics such as “BIGELOW 6-200,” “Little Jonah,” and “Let’s Jump the Broomstick.”

When asked if she felt nervous performing in front of large crowds as a young girl, she responded, “No, not really. Nobody ever told me to be nervous. The stage always felt like home to me because I had been in front of people ever since I was 3 years old, singing to people. So it was a...