Born in Tucson, Arizona, she began performing as a teenager in community and regional musicals, ultimately moving to Washington, D.C., with her family when her father Dean Burch entered Republican party politics in the 1964 White House run for the Presidency by Barry Goldwater.
The role earned her kudos, including one from Frank Rich (then the drama critic for The New York Times), in which he called her "a Modigliani goddess with another strong voice and an almost otherworldly presence".
In 1989, after having left Llanview (where One Life took place), she created the role of Julie for the Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Show Boat, which subsequently was filmed by PBS for Great Performances.
She also performed at diverse locations such as the Republican National Convention and RFK Stadium, stirring audiences with her version of "The Star Spangled Banner".
In 2003, after roles such as Patsy Cline in "An Evening With..." and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, she called her old friend and Annie director Martin Charnin to come and create a new night club act for her.