Brenda Lee in 2023; Judy Garland in 1945.Photo:Jason Davis/WireImage; Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Jason Davis/WireImage; Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Brenda Leewas just 13 years old in 1958 when she recorded her immortal holiday classic“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”Despite her tender age, she was already a showbiz pro with years of experience under her belt.
Lee began singing before she could even remember. By age 3, she was performing on the counter of a local sweet shop in exchange for candy and pocket change. At 5, she won first place at her school’s talent show with a spirited rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The victory turned her into a local celebrity, leading to invitations to perform throughout her hometown in the Atlanta suburbs. (She often had to stand on a milk crate to reach the microphone.)
When her father tragically died in a construction accident, 8-year-old Lee became her family’s primary source of income. Despite the challenging circumstances, she insists she never felt pressured, saying she was simply doing what came naturally.
Brenda Lee playing piano, 1960.Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty
Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty
Lee never forgot Garland’s words. “She thought just a minute, then looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Don’teverlet them take your childhood.’ So I’ve always remembered that.”
Thankfully, Lee heeded Garland’s advice. “I had my childhood," she says. “I went to public school. I had my friends. I was a cheerleader. I did all the stuff that all the other kids were doing. The only difference was that I sang.”
These days, Lee has advice of her own to any young hopefuls looking to follow in her footsteps. “I would say to them. ‘Make sure this is what you really want and not what someone else wants for you.’ Because it’s hard! It’s hard for kids in the industry. You’re just insulated and you’re told everything: how to move, how to look, how to dress. Sometimes you’re even told how to perform. Luckily that didn’t happen to me. I had good people around me and they just let me be me. I’m like Popeye: I am what I am!”
source: people.com
