A Future Christmas Queen Helped Inspire One of Willie Nelson's Biggest Hits
More than four decades before Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" returned to the top of the charts in a viral holiday resurgence, the legendary singer helped inspire one of country music's most iconic hits.
On May 14, 1982, Willie Nelson hit No. 1 on the U.S. country charts with "Always on My Mind," his now-classic ballad that would go on to become one of the defining songs of his career.
But many fans don't realize the song was first recorded years earlier by Lee, 81, in 1972.
The emotional track has since been recorded by more than 300 artists. Upon its release, the tune quickly became a favorite among musicians across genres. Later that same year, Elvis Presley released his own version, turning it into a major hit shortly after his separation from Priscilla Presley.
Still, it was Nelson's, 93, stripped-down, aching interpretation a decade later that truly cemented the song in country music history.
In fact, it's one of the two songs in Nelson's library that make him "misty" when he plays them. The other? "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground."
Released as the title track from his 1982 album Always on My Mind, Nelson's version spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and crossed over into the pop charts as well. The song also earned Nelson three Grammy Awards, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Song of the Year.
Its success marked yet another major moment during Nelson's blockbuster early-1980s run, when the outlaw country icon was becoming one of the biggest crossover stars in American music.
More than 40 years after it topped the country charts, Nelson's version still stands as one of the most beloved heartbreak songs ever recorded.
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 5:39 AM.