Brenda Lee, the famous "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree" singer, has shared how she's managed to keep a marriage for six decades. And, frankly, it's not exactly advice anyone can use.
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The singer visited Southern Living's Biscuits & Jam podcast, where she was asked about her marriage. The 80-year-old singer has maintained a marriage for 61 years now, with partner Ronnie Shacklett.
The couple have been married since 1963 and met when she was 17. This is a pretty long time to know someone and not get sick of them. So, naturally, she was asked how she's made this happen. I'm not sure if anyone out there is earnestly seeking her advice on the topic, but it's useless information for the likes of us.
"I'm just me," she says. Gee, thanks Brenda, how are we supposed to use that in our own marriages?
"When I commit, it's hard to get rid of me, and my husband will tell you that," she continued. So for a good marriage to last, you need be committed to your partner. Who knew?
"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," she said.
Brenda Lee then goes on to explain the difficult parts of being a singer, and how it makes relationships difficult.
Brenda Lee Shines Light On The Hard Part Of Being A Singer
Lee explains how the industry was difficult, but only behind the scenes. "Yeah, it looks easy on the stage. And you know what? It is," she explained. She said that the performing part of being a singer was the easy part, because it wasn't work as she enjoyed it.
But when you're not performing, the reality of the job hits. "Once you get off that stage, and you take off the makeup, and you take off the stage clothes, and you get back on that bus for a thousand-mile trip to the next gig, that's the work," she said.
Considering this lifestyle, it makes sense how simply being committed, loyal, and apparently being Brenda Lee, helped in maintaining a long-lasting relationship. They're not easy things to find in the industry, especially seeing as there's only one Brenda Lee.
