Brenda-Marie Whitehead was born Brenda-Marie Cantrell in Fort Smith, Arkansas. While growing up she was always told she was a descendant of the infamous William Clarke Quantrill.

She went to Hollywood in 2000 to be in a couple of episodes on MADtv. She was featured in a comedy sketch as an Opening Scene Traveler and Passenger with Mo Collins & Christian Duguay. This was her first real exposure of being on a nationally televised TV show. She was a huge fan of this show anyway, so this was a major thrill. She still owns the signed script the cast gave her!