'50s Singer Brenda Lee Has Tried Plenty Of Different Hair Trends But She Always Keeps This One Thing
If you're a fan of holiday songs, chances are, you've heard the Brenda Lee hit, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" on repeat. Known for other retro smashes like the dreamy ballad, "I'm Sorry," the '50s singer was known for her powerful voice and big, big hair. During her early singing days, Lee was a celeb who looked gorgeous with her natural hair, and she wore her brunette curls cropped with some height at the crown. As a young teen, it gave her an air of innocence that highlighted her natural, girl-next-door beauty.
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Later on in her career, Lee experimented with different styles, but always maintained an oversized bouffant. It's a classic '60s hairdo that you can modernize with a longer cut and a sleek side part, though that's not how Lee wore it. The "Losing You" singer sported hers with wispy bangs and a teased crown with one side swept to the other to create tons of volume. At 4 feet and 9 inches tall, it gave the petite crooner some added height, and while she experimented with different trends, Lee always kept it big.
Brenda Lee had a reason for loving teased hair
As Brenda Lee's career grew, so did her hair, and she wasn't afraid to try different styles. In 1975, she went with a curly, rounded shape resembling an afro — a hairstyle straight from the '70s that is making a comeback. Lee had her strands dyed a gorgeous dirty-blond shade that had her resembling another huge star at the time — Barbra Streisand. Two years later, the country/pop singer switched it up to a vibrant copper hue that brought out her clear, porcelain skin. She kept up her hair volume over the years, and in a 2002 interview with "Fresh Air," Lee told host Terry Gross, "I still have big hair. It's not as big, but it's big." The mom of two added, "I'm so short, I think it makes me look taller. So I just continue to keep it."
Now in her '80s, Lee is still sporting larger-than-life hair, even when she's running errands at Target. In an Instagram reel shared in December 2024, the "Dick Tracy" star is seen looking touched at finding her record, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," on the shelves. She looked as fabulous as ever with her blond hair teased and falling in waves around her face, wearing a bright-red faux fur coat. Whether she's taking the stage by storm or making a trip to the store, we're sure Lee will always look like the diva that she is.