‘Hot Lips’ sings the hits

Young Chang

Sally Kellerman tells stories between songs. She talks about herself,

about others, about life’s “travails” and its comedic moments. Her mother

always asked her, “Sally, do you have to tell everything you know?” the

actress/singer remembers.

“Somehow, I don’t mind,” Kellerman said. “It’s done with humor, so you

don’t know whether it’s true or not.”

The Academy Award-nominated star of the film “M*A*S*H,”

internationally known for her role as Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips”

O’Houlihan, will tell anecdotes and perform everything from blues-based

tunes to Steven Sondheim’s ‘40s hits today and Sunday as part of the

Cabaret series at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

“She is a lot of fun, and she just simply tells it the way it is,”

said Center President Jerry E. Mandel. “You want to know about her and

she does it in song. It’s a wonderfully adult, mature evening . . . I

just smiled through all of it.”

Kellerman said she has always been a singer. She jokes that it’s a

good thing she had her “hobby of acting.”

Her film credits include “The Player,” “Pret-a-Porter” and “Back to

School.” She has worked with director Robert Altman and such actors as

Rodney Dangerfield, William Hurt and Sissy Spacek.

But not many know that Kellerman, 63, was signed to a recording

contract with Verve Records when she was 18.

Barry Manilow, Gene and Billy Paige, Paul Rothchild and Bobby Womack

have produced her various albums. She has sung on TV talk shows,

including Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers.

Kellerman credits her mother, former Leisure World resident Edith

Kellerman Benjamin, for the musical influence.

“She was such an inspiration to me,” she said. “She taught piano to me

when I was growing up. I just adored her.”

And the world, just now, seems to be taking greater notice of the

singer in the actress.

“I’m finally getting there,” Kellerman said. “I’m a late bloomer.”

She’s definitely been trying. Don’t get her wrong -- she loves acting

and she’s always wanted to be an actress, but she wanted both careers to

go strong at the same time.

At the height of her acting pursuits during the 1970s, she turned down

roles and instead took off with her band, whose name she doesn’t

remember. She’s not sure if it even had a name. But there were 11 guys,

and the musical dozen returned home from their road performances $50,000

in the hole, she said.

“It’s the influence of the ‘60s and where we just went with our

hearts,” she said. “I didn’t realize I could have done both. I could have

waited and gone in between movies. It was all or nothing.”

Today, Kellerman’s going for the “all” in her acting, music and at

home. She’s working on some music projects she’s not sure if she should

announce just yet. She hopes to do at least a couple major roles before

“going to the great beyond.”

Kellerman has 11-year old fraternal twins at home, a grown daughter

and a husband she never wants to be away from too long.

“I’m alive and kicking,” she said.

FYI

* What: Sally Kellerman

* When: 7:30 and 9:30 tonight and 1 p.m. Sunday

* Where: Founders Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center,

600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

* Cost: $45 or $49

* Call: (714) 740-7878