"Here's the story of a lovely lady,/Who began in many shows upon the stage./She was the toast of talk shows such as Johnny Carson,/in TV's Golden Age.
"And then one day the lady got a series./And before her agent took another lunch,/ She became an overnight sensation/Starring as the mother of The Brady Bunch."
Florence Henderson is coming to San Francisco. The beloved TV star, who is still rocking it at 80, will appear in the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation's 20th anniversary Help is on the Way gala and concert, on Sun., Aug. 24 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre.
Despite years of starring in Broadway musicals, and on television talk shows, variety shows and game shows, she will forever be remembered as Carol Brady on ABC's iconic family sitcom The Brady Bunch.
Although the show ran for only six seasons, from 1969-74, it has become both a touchstone of American pop culture and an international phenomenon. In a recent interview, Henderson shared some of the ways in which that show changed her life.
"It's amazing the power of that little show, that has never been off the air," she says. "It airs in 120 countries, and I still get fan mail from people in places like Russia and Germany and Asia."
She agrees that the show's initial impact was in how it spoke to children of divorce, which became widespread in the early 1970s. "We were the first blended family, the first couple to sleep in the same bed on TV, and it was the first show about parents discussing things to work them out, versus just telling the kids what to do."
Those who knew Henderson from her many game show and talk show appearances prior to The Brady Bunch remember her irreverent, saucy personality and risque sense of humor. Compared to the actress herself, Carol Brady seemed downright dull.
"Carol Brady was a character I created within the context of the show," she says. "The story is seen through the eyes of the child, so I created and played Carol as the mom I always wanted. I never expected to be my saucy, risque self on-camera, but I sure was off-camera!"
The fact that people expect wholesome Ma Brady actually works in Henderson's favor. "People perceive me in a certain way, so it becomes that much funnier when I let loose because they don't expect it. I'd rather make people laugh than anything else."
The number that she'll do for Help is on the Way is sure to shock her Brady Bunch fans, but I dare not give away any surprises here.
A glance down the list of Henderson's many credits reveals that in the majority of her projects, she's played either Carol Brady or "Herself." She admits that there have been drawbacks to being so closely associated with the iconic role.
"When you're in such a phenomenal cult show, casting people find it difficult to see you in anything else. But I've never let it stop me. My next goal is to be on Law & Order. I wanna be a killer, or somebody's mother or girlfriend."
The greatest benefit of her Brady Bunch fame is all of the affection she receives from fans. "People always ask me for a hug," she says. "And I give good hug."
Henderson shook up more than a few of those who think of her as Carol Brady with her 2011 memoir Life is Not a Stage, in which she detailed problems she faced while growing up in rural Indiana, a divorce, bouts with depression, and the death of her second husband.
"I had a lot of trepidation about writing the book, because I'm basically a private person, and I was concerned about reactions from my children and my grandchildren," she says. "But you've gotta tell the truth, about both the tribulations and the successes. People have thanked me for it, saying it helped them get through some of their own problems, like divorce or depression."
The book's major bombshell was Henderson's admission that in the late 60s she had an extramarital fling with then-New York City Mayor John Lindsey, who gave her crabs. "When I was on The View , they asked me, 'What did you learn from that experience?' and I said, 'Never go to bed with a politician!'"
Known for nearly 20 years as the commercial spokesperson for Wesson cooking oil, Henderson has written two cookbooks, and hosted cooking shows including Country Kitchen and the recent Who's Cooking with Florence Henderson.
"Which is funny, because I don't really like to cook," she says. "But I was on the Food Network's Rachel vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off competition, and I made it to the finals, so I guess I'm pretty good."
Henderson is very happy to be part of the Help is on the Way benefit. "I'm a big supporter of AIDS research and charities. I was one of the first to do an AIDS benefit. Back when most celebrities wouldn't do them, Debbie Reynolds and Rip Taylor and I got up at the Hollywood Bowl and did a benefit." Her good friend and Brady Bunch husband Robert Reed had HIV when he died of cancer at age 59 in 1992. So this Sunday, Help is on the Way �" and so is Florence Henderson.