On December 5, 2023, the 1958 Christmas song Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, making it the oldest song to make the #1 spot. The song originally flopped in 1958 but gained popularity two years later, making the top 20s by 1960. The song was on the US charts every year (at one point at the #2 spot for nine weeks) but never hit #1.
I thought it might be interesting to look at Brenda Lee’s birth chart and check this out astrologically.
Using December 11, 1944 3:24pm Atlanta, GA with an AA Roden rating, Brenda Lee has Aries Ascendant (Rising) with Ascendant ruler Mars strong in its own sign of Scorpio in the 8th House conjunct the Sun. This gives her bravery, courage, passion, and drive. Regarding her singing career, Venus rules her 2nd House of the voice and occupies the 10th House of career. Plus, that fiery, ambitious combination of Sun-Mars in Scorpio aspects her 2nd House. Two of three Dharma-Karma Adipati Yogas that form in her chart are created by Sun and Mars, with the easily notable one occurring from the Ascendant by the 1st and 5th Houses, which tie her 1st House overall presence and vitality with the 5th House of entertainment. This Sun-Mars conjunction owning the 1st and 5th Houses also creates a Trikona Raj Yoga as well as a Dhana Yoga for wealth.
Brenda also has a Parivartana Yoga between Jupiter and Mercury. (Jupiter here is in Mercury-ruled Virgo while Mercury is in Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius.) This makes both planets stronger, giving Brenda more capability for finding and making the most of opportunities (Jupiter) and for using her voice for fun and for business (Mercury).
In 1958 when Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree first came out, Brenda Lee was running Jupiter Dasha/Saturn Bhukti. Jupiter rules her 9th House of prosperity and her dharma, is in the Parivartana Yoga with Mercury (voice) while Saturn, bhukti planet, is in a mutual aspect with Mercury in Mercury’s sign of Gemini- all the while Jupiter is aspecting her Venus in the 10th House of career, public, and the stage.
On December 5, 2023, when this song finally hit #1 on the charts after some 65 years, transiting Jupiter in Aries was within 10 degrees of her Ascendant. Interestingly, her Ascendant is in the Nakshatra Bharani known as ‘the star of restraint’. She obviously didn’t know she’d have to wait 65 years before her single hit #1, but wow!
Her 10th House ruler Saturn was also transiting through the 11th House of goals and aspiration, aspecting her Ascendant and her Ascendant ruler Mars and the Sun in the 8th House of change and transformation- while transiting Sun and Mars were in Scorpio, conjunct her natal Sun-Mars power combination, triggering her many yogas that these two planets form. Also, transiting Mercury was conjunct her natal Mercury in the 9th House of gains and prosperity within five degrees. Transiting Venus was on her natal Moon, aspecting the Ascendant. Transiting Moon was in her 5th House of entertainment.
And wait for it- Brenda Lee is currently running Venus Dasha/Jupiter Bhukti, triggering the Parivartana Yoga of Mercury/Jupiter bringing its 9th House abundance while Jupiter aspects her 10th House of the public stage and Venus therein, the planet who represents music and the arts and rules her 2nd House of the voice and singing.
I invite you to take a look at her chart and observe any other combinations or conditions that support this long-awaited achievement. I also wish you and yours a very Happy Holiday season however you celebrate and all the best in the new year 2024.
Renate Maria Bell is a certified Vedic Astrologer, Jyotish Visharada, and approved teacher with the Council of Vedic Astrology. She can be reached at renatembell@aol.com
Photos of Brenda Lee courtesy Google search; Photo of Brenda Lee’s birth chart courtesy Shri Jyoti Star of which the author is a licensed user