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Brenda Lee shies away from being pegged a "legend," but her genre-bending 50-year career with over 100 million albums sold certainly qualifies her as one. She's also the only woman to be inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, following a string of hits that include "I'm Sorry," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Break It to Me Gently," "Fool No. 1," and "Jingle Bell Rock." Through it all, Lee, who was raised in the church, stayed committed to her faith, but she didn't express it in song until this year, through Gospel Duets With Treasured Friends (Provident). The collection includes a cavalcade of country and rock superstars, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Martina McBride and Huey Lewis, not to mention the Southern pipes of Little Miss Dynamite herself. Here's more from our face-to-face chat about her illustrious career.

Brenda Lee

What's your take on being described as legendary?

Brenda Lee I'm thinking "no way" because I don't think of myself that way! I'm just a girl who's been really blessed to be doing what I'm doing and there's a lot of people who've sweated a lot of tears and put a lot of life's work into me to be able to have my dream. So if I'm a legend, then they're legends to. They're all a part of that circle.

What was it like back in the early days of rock 'n' roll?

Lee It was so fun, but I don't think any of us laying the foundation really knew our careers were going to explode. We knew that the music was there and that this was something special. But whether it was the rhythm or whatever it was, people just grabbed a hold of rock music more than anyone expected. We were glad to be on the front end, but I don't think any of us realized we'd still be here today.

Was it a conscious decision for you to transcend the lines between rock, country, and pop?

Lee I don't know if it's a conscious decision, but I never liked to be pigeonholed. Even before success, my shows involved all types of music: gospel, rock, you name it. I think you need to keep progressing and doing different types of music, because I wouldn't have been happy with just one type.

Who have been some of your favorite artists to collaborate with over the years?

Lee That's so hard to say because I've worked with everybody in almost every genre of music! I worked with all the rock folks and country folks and lot of gospel greats: Sophie Tucker, Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley. You name it and I worked with them! I never got the pleasure to collaborate with Frank Sinatra, though I did meet him.

I bet you've got a wall of fame in your house.

Lee I do. I always get autographs and I'm a picture hound. I'm such a fan! Ella Fitzgerald was a friend of mine and we used to play the same big nightclubs. She'd send me yellow roses on opening nights, and when she passed, I called her estate and was given a brooch. From Judy Garland, I have a bronze box with her name on it from when she performed for the last king of England. I have Jimmy Durante's old fedora hat, which he wore on stage for 50 years, and a ring of Flip Wilson's that says "God" on it. I also have a poster of The Beatles signed by each one of them because they used to open for me in England before they were a success.

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