Brenda Lee Considers Herself ‘One Of The Lucky Ones’ To Have ‘Great’ Husband Of Over 60 Years

Mar 25, 2025 by apost team

NEW: Join our Broadcast Channel for updates on Celebrities, Royals and uplifting news :-) It’s free => https://m.me/j/AbbJ9OINDzpPgn1z 

Born on Dec. 11, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, singer Brenda Lee showed musical talent at an early age, but Lee’s path to success wasn’t without hardship. In 1953, her father tragically died in a construction accident, and Lee became a beacon of hope for her struggling family. 

At just 10, she was performing on local radio and TV. In a 2009 Las Vegas Review-Journal interview, she recalled: “I did start on radio. I was confident.” Her first paid performance, for $35, marked a turning point for her family’s finances. 

In 1956, at 11, she performed with Red Foley, earning a spot on “Ozark Jubilee.” When asked if she was ever nervous, Lee denied it and said: “Nobody ever told me to be nervous. The stage always felt like hometown to me because I had been in front of people ever since I was 3 years old, singing to people. So it was a very comfortable spot for me.”

In 1956, she recorded hits like “Let’s Jump the Broomstick.” Her late producer, Owen Bradley, urged her to blend country, rockabilly, blues, and ballads. By the 1960s, Lee had over 55 chart-topping hits and a global fan base. 

In December 2023, Lee’s 1958 holiday hit, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the singer said: “I like that God has given me that favor that I can stand aside and look and know that it wasn’t just me; that it’s a conglomerate of a lot of people that made the song what it is.” When asked about the song’s lasting financial success, Lee joked: “I think I’m making more now than I did when I was singing.”

Lee revealed that she credits her husband of over 60 years, Ronnie Shackett, whom she met at 18 and married less than a year later in 1963, for giving her the confidence to step back from singing in the early 2000s. 

In a December 2023 interview with Variety, Lee stated:

“I was one of the lucky ones that had a great husband that saved the money.” 

Lee added:

“One day he said, ‘Honey, I know you love to sing and you could do it as long as you want to, but if there’s ever a point you don’t, don’t worry about it.’ So that gave me the foundation to stand on and say, you know what? I’m going to retire.” 

Elaborating on her decision, she said:

“I didn’t retire because I didn’t love the business, because I do,” and continued: “but when I retired, the business was a little crazy and I didn’t feel like there was a place for what I was doing.”

“The singing never got old, but the getting there and the getting back was wearing my body out, and it does everybody,” Lee explained.  

In a December 2023 interview with The New York Times, she admitted:

“I can finally put my kids and my grandkids and my friends first. For once, I’m here to see them.” 

Years later, Lee remains grateful to her fans. In her website’s bio, the singer mentioned that their loyalty and love were key to her success:

“They know I love them and I know they love me. I have some that have been with me from the start. Other than God, they are responsible for who and what I am. He gave me the gift, but they’ve let me have my gift.”

“They are the best people in the world,” she said, adding, “We started out together and Lord love them, they are still here.”

At 80 years old, the singer still has a strong fan base. In a clip Lee shared on Instagram of herself roaming through Target, she shared her joy at seeing the product of her efforts out for everyone to enjoy.

“Seeing your own records on a store’s shelves will always be a magical experience! ✨” she wrote.

apost.com

Brenda Lee’s incredible journey and iconic music legacy will continue to captivate fans for years to come. What’s your favorite song of hers? Let us know, and then pass this along to fans of the iconic singer!