Florence Henderson Was A Wellspring of Comfort

I first met Florence at a read-through of The Brady Bunch at Paramount, and I was struck by this vivacious, fun-loving woman. Florence’s zest for life showed through every word she spoke on the show. You could see her sense of humor in her eyes–she was always looking for the joy. None of us thought the show would last–the critics said we were too “saccharine sweet.” And there were so many great jokes made about us. It’s crazy that it’s lasted forever.

One episode that was particularly meaningful for our relationship came in Season 4, when Marcia and Carol perform “Together (Wherever We Go)” at a school talent show. It hits home so much right now. I’ve known her since I was 12. She’s always been there, more like a dear friend or a sister than a mother. She performed with me on Dancing With the Stars recently, and it’s like that song came full circle.

Florence became America’s mom because everyone who watched The Brady Bunch felt her love. She looked for the good in everybody, she celebrated life, and she was like comfort food–the kind of comfort food that you don’t feel bad about after. The world’s a better place because of her. She was, indeed, the loveliest of ladies.

McCormick played Marcia on The Brady Bunch