Heather Henderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heather Anne Henderson
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Henderson in 2015
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| Born | March 7, 1973 Camden, New Jersey U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Baby Heather |
| Occupation | Burlesque artist, podcaster |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | co-host of Skeptically Yours and Ardent Atheist podcasts |
Heather Henderson (born March 7, 1973) is a professional burlesque dancer and podcast host who uses the stage name Baby Heather. She is an advocate for skeptical inquiry and atheism and won the 2012 People's Choice Podcast Awards in the religion/inspiration category for her Ardent Atheist podcast. From 1989 to 1991, Henderson was a regular performer on the Dance Party USA television show.
Early life
Henderson was born on March 7, 1973 in Camden, New Jersey. Her mother was a Hungarian Jew. When Henderson was 10, in 1983, her father left the home. She attended Camden City Public Schools for elementary, middle and high school. She was a "shy and quiet girl" who did not talk back and listened to, and believed, everything her mother told her: "I did not grow up with critical thinking skills at all." Henderson's mother died when Heather was 23, in 1996.
Henderson's father, Ed Henderson, was a self-taught musician who worked as an EKG technician. He quit that job when Heather was seventeen in order to work full-time as a musician singing and playing the guitar and banjo. Henderson started singing with her father when she was seven. She also played the violin.
Growing up, Henderson knew that she wanted to be "a star". At age fifteen, she appeared on a nationwide teen dance show called Dance Party USA. She appeared on the show regularly for three years and went by the nickname Baby Heather. Her favorite musicians were Prince and Milli Vanilli, and her favorite actor was Michael J. Fox.
When Henderson's mother became involved with Jews for Jesus, they started attending progressive Christian churches. Henderson was very uncomfortable attending these churches because of how they treated the members. "I thought they were hypocrites," she said. According to Henderson, they made fun of people who were poor and of a family who had a child with a mental disability. In addition, they asked for, "money all the time," and scared the kids by telling them that God is always watching them and they are going to go to Hell. "It was awful for me." As soon as she was old enough, Henderson told her mother she would not attend church again.
In 2011, Henderson moved to Los Angeles with friends. In order to raise money to purchase a plane ticket, she organized a fundraiser for herself with burlesque friends who donated their talent for a one-night show.
Film and television
Henderson was a regular dancer on the local television show Dancin' on Air and the nationally televised Dance Party USA from 1989 to 1991. In her last year, she became a co-host. Henderson has also appeared on Sesame Street, Nickelodeon's Double Dare, in the film Mannequin Two: On the Move, and on Disney's Annapolis.
Music and recording career
In her teens, Henderson released a single called "Give It Up" using her Dance Party nickname “Baby Heather.” Billboard gave the single a positive review.
Henderson played with Penn Jillette's No God Band in 2011.
Podcasts
Henderson is the co-host of two podcasts with Emery Emery, Ardent Atheist and Skeptically Yours. They started producing the Ardent Atheist podcast in February 2011.
In 2012, Ardent Atheist won best podcast in the religion inspiration category for The People's Choice Podcast Awards.
From November 2012 to April 2013 Henderson appeared as a featured segment on the Skepticality podcast. Her segment was called News in Religion.
