Brenda Lee, 81, on Life Now and Her 60+ Year Marriage to Ronnie: ‘I Know What I Can Do Now’
The beloved singer opens up about love, faith and life at 81
Key Takeaways
- Brenda Lee, 81, has been married to Ronald "Ronnie" Shacklett since 1963.
- Lee recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958 at age 13.
- Lee is a member of both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame.
Last night Brenda Lee performed “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Honors event, and trust us when we say the country icon is still dazzling fans with her music. Even in the middle of August, the crowd was feeling the holiday spirit! But her performance had everyone wondering what Lee is up to nowadays. Spoiler alert: She’s 81, happily married and better than ever! To learn more about Lee’s life now, keep scrolling!
First, how did Brenda Lee get so popular?
Lee was born in December 1944 in Atlanta. Most people know her best as the singer of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” which was originally recorded in 1958 and remains one of the most-streamed holiday songs to this day.
“I feel good when any generation listens, to tell you the truth,” Lee told Woman’s World last year. “This song is kind of magical.”
“I never dreamed that a Christmas song would be a big part of my legacy,” she continued. “It’s crazy. I think I recorded that when I was 13 and never dreamed that it would become what it has become.”
Is Brenda Lee married?
Lee has been married to Ronald “Ronnie” Shacklett since 1963. They met when she was 17 years old and eloped after just six months of dating.
“I’m just me, and when I commit, it’s hard to get rid of me, and my husband will tell you that,” Lee told Southern Living in 2024. “But no, I’m loyal to the ones that are loyal to me. And in this industry, that’s hard because everybody’s so busy. And it’s normal, but they’re so busy just trying to survive what this business offers, that it’s hard to make relationships.”
Does Brenda Lee have kids?
Lee and Ronnie have two children, Julie Leann Shacklett and Jolie Lenee Shacklett, and several grandchildren.
“[It is] just the regular day of a woman that has kids, grandkids, a husband and a house,” Lee told Rolling Stone in 2018. “The thing about me is I’ve always led a normal life…I’m probably one of the few artists that did.”
What is Brenda Lee up to now?
Lee is still performing and making a variety of TV show and magazine appearances. When she appeared on the cover of Woman’s World last December, she revealed that she learns “something new every day from people who come to my shows. I really love hearing their stories. Here’s a perfect stranger who I’m talking to, and we have so much in common. It amazes me. I sign autographs and I stay until the last person leaves. I don’t care if it’s two hours, three hours, I’m there. I feel like if they thought enough of me to come, then I need to do that.”
She also shared that after all these years, following God’s plan for her remains one of her top priorities.
“That fellow upstairs…He’s got a sense of humor, and He’s going to let you be here. Even if you’re sick or incapacitated,” she said. “Go out there and celebrate, go caroling. It’ll make you feel wonderful.”
Lee has won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and she’s been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. She also received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, in August of 2018.
“I think over time, having more confidence allows you to give yourself grace,” Lee told Woman’s World. “I’ve come to a point in my life where I know what I can do now. I know how to do it. I choose how to do it. With wisdom comes more self-love.”
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