Brenda Lee Reacts to 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' Breaking 1 Billion Streams Days Before Her 80th Birthday (Exclusive)

Brenda Lee.Photo:Alexa King Stone Alexa King Stone The festive rivalry between the two pop divas is a friendly one. When “Rockin’” hit No. 1 last year,Carey sent Lee congratulatory flowers. “I thought that was very sweet,” says Lee. “That was so nice of her.” Her song’s status as a 1 billion streamer isn’t the only milestone Lee has to celebrate this holiday season. On Dec. 11, she’ll enter her eighth decade.

Brenda Lee Recalls Special Bond with 'Favorite Beatle' John Lennon When the Band Opened for Her in Early '60s

Brenda Lee (left) and John Lennon.Photo:GAB Archive/Redferns; Shutterstock GAB Archive/Redferns; Shutterstock These days Brenda Lee is best known for the perennial 1958 holiday classic “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree,” which she recorded when she was 12 years old. But during the ’60s, she was the hottest female pop star on the planet — theTaylor Swiftof her time.She was such a huge star that she scored back-to-back No. 1 hits in 1960 with “I’m Sorry” and “I Want to Be Wanted” while she was still in her teens.

Brenda Lee's 2 Children: All About the 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' Singer's Daughters Julie and Jolie

Brenda Lee poses for a portrait; Brenda Lee with daughters Jolie and Julie during the annual Nashville Christmas Parade on Dec. 3, 1972 in Nashville, TN.Photo:GAB Archive/Redferns ; © Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images GAB Archive/Redferns ; © Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Singer Brenda Lee and her husband of over 60 years, Ronnie Shacklett, are proud parents of two adult daughters, Julie and Jolie.

Brenda Song Recalls LandingSuite LifeRole as Mom Had Breast Cancer: 'A Big Turning Point' (Exclusive)

Brenda Song.Photo:Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty Brenda Songis opening up about what it was like having to choose between going to Harvard and taking her role onThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody— all while her mother was in treatment for breast cancer. In an exclusive preview of Tuesday’s episode of Mythical Kitchen’sLast Mealsprovided to PEOPLE, theRunning Pointstar sits down with host Josh Scherer to discuss the pivotal moment in her life and career.

Brenda Song Reveals How That SurpriseRunning PointCameo Came Together Last Minute (Exclusive)

Brenda Song (left) and Kate Hudson in ‘Running Point’.Photo:Kat Marcinowski/Netflix Kat Marcinowski/Netflix Warning: this post contains spoilers forRunning Pointseason 1. Brenda SongandMacaulay Culkinsupport each other on and off screen, and that sometimes includes popping up in each other’s projects. Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE abouther latest role in Netflix’sRunning Point, the actress, 36, reveals how her fiancé ended up making a last-minute cameo. The camera eventually pans to a frustrated Culkin, decked out in Waves merch, who is impatiently waiting forBillie Eilishto sing the national anthem.