Donny Osmond and his sister Marie Osmond shot to worldwide popularity when Donny & Marie debuted in the 1970s. The musical duo achieved even more fame after their television performance, and the siblings eventually split up to pursue separate solo careers.
Years later, Donny and Marie reunited in Las Vegas, where they successfully ran at the Flamingo. However, they decided to leave “Sin City” in 2019 amid widespread speculation that they were involved in some family feud.
Donny played in Las Vegas last weekend in front of many fans. During the concert, his sister Marie unexpectedly came and disclosed fresh insights about their relationship.
Donny and Marie were the only Osmond siblings to enter the music industry. They rose to prominence due to their solo efforts and association with The Osmonds and Osmond Brothers.
Donny Osmond was born in Odgen, Utah, on December 9, 1957. He was always a performer, appearing on stage with his older siblings as a small youngster as part of the Osmond Brothers.
Marie Osmond was born two years later. She was one of nine children, and despite being the only girl, she was introduced to the entertainment world when her brothers became regulars on The Andy Williams Show.
Marie’s mother believed that her one and only daughter should also pursue a career in music. At the time, Donny was already a teen idol. Marie will shortly join him on stage.
After negotiating a contract with the family music label, she went solo. She entered her first recording session when she was 12 years old and later described the experience as “the most horrifying.”
“So I puked!” Then I went in and started singing.”
Donny and Marie’s parents had always envisioned raising a large, strongly religious family. There was a lot of music in the children’s environment, even though there was a lot of strict discipline.
Olive and George, their singing parents, gathered the family every Friday night to sing, play saxophone, and debate current events.
When Donny was three and Marie was one, their family left Utah to pursue a long career in show business. The next stop was Hollywood, but the transition wasn’t easy for the young Donny.
“It was a horrible day for me,” he admitted. “That was fun at first, but then I became lonely for my sandbox, my vehicle. Yet it was a new beginning.”
“I went from an innocent youngster to a national television star”
Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, Donny and Marie’s older brothers, had become a great draw, performing as a child ensemble. Later, in 1962, Walt Disney recognized them and hired them to appear on the television show Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
Donny began his career in the show business when he was five years old. The Osmond siblings ended up singing and performing on The Andy Williams Show, and it was there that Donny got his big break.
“I turned from an innocent youngster to a national television personality. “My profession took on its own life,” he explained.
Marie Osmond specialized in country music, unlike her brothers, who predominantly made pop music. When she was 14 years old, she published her first single, Paper Flowers, and it instantly became a hit.
Because of the song, she rose to the music industry’s top. She had the No. 1 country hit in the United States and reached No. 5 on Billboard’s pop chart. Marie, who was only a teenager then, rose to fame in Europe after her debut single, Paper Flowers, arrived at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Marie’s debut album, My Little Corner of the World, was released a year later and debuted in the Billboard country Top 40.
Donny and his siblings, known as The Osmonds, performed in front of tens of thousands of fans throughout the United States and Europe. On the other hand, Donny found it tough to live on the road as a child. He was tired and lonely, and he missed his toys.
“It was a life of extremes,” he recalled. “Twenty thousand girls chanting your name on stage, then go to a silent hotel room.”
By the time the Osmonds finished making hit songs in 1976, they had released 16 albums.
The young brother-sister duo’s newfound recognition, fueled by Marie’s duets with Donny, catapulted them to global renown.
When the siblings first started performing together, teen hero Donny was featured in practically every publication. Donny felt a lot of pressure from that, which affected him.
“There were instances where I had the choice between walking on stage or dying; I would’ve chosen death. “It’s that terrifying,” he remarked.
“Ever since I started in the business, I’ve known that someone is always looking at me. Therefore, I wanted to be perfect.”
Donny and Marie’s first collaboration produced smash singles “Morning Side of the Mountain” and “I’m Leaving It All Up to You.”
The two Osmonds made their television debut in 1976, courtesy to the success of the variety program Donny & Marie.
The entertainment show premiered on ABC in 1975, with the two siblings singing and co-hosting. It quickly became a national hit, with Donny and Marie always concluding the concert with the legendary May Tomorrow Be a Wonderful Day song.
The show also featured celebrity guests such as Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, Sonny & Cher, and Olivia Newton-John.
Marie accompanying her brother on TV sounded like a winning formula. Behind the scenes, though, Marie, like her brother, was under intense pressure to look good.
The dynamic team was all smiles in front of the camera as they interviewed celebrity guests and performed countless songs. Yet, Marie was subjected to pressure that many public-facing women confront.
“When I was 103 pounds, producers took me out into the parking lot and told me that I was big, nasty, and a shame to my family,” Marie told Closer in 2015. “They advised me to keep food away from my chubby face.”
Marie also remembered something was amiss with her brother while filming the episode.
“He would have terrible periods in his dressing room,” Marie Osmond recalled. “I assumed it was simply stress. “I don’t think he realized what the issue was.”
Donny would later explain that he had fought with mental health concerns throughout his career. That’s not unexpected, given the insane level of celebrity he and his sister lived with.
It even grew to the point where his organs became a source of popular fascination.
Donny once explained that he was brought to the hospital in excruciating discomfort after experiencing abdominal problems after a performance. He had surgery after he arrived, but it wasn’t long before he was back on track.
After Donny awoke from surgery, a magazine photographer was in the room.
“The photographer told me, ‘We need some shots of you, Donny,’” he recounted. “‘You appear to be in pain.’”
Donny agreed, but years later, he reflected on how stupid it was. He said that he was on the verge of death.
“At the time, I did what they required me to do because I recognized millions of girls would read Tiger Beat, and I had to put up a nice show. The harder you toiled, the brighter your star shone. “At least, that’s what I assumed,” Donny said.
Donny and Marie both had highly successful solo careers. Meanwhile, they raised their own families, but the desire to stand next to each other on stage again never faded.
The siblings announced their new joint residency at Las Vegas’ Flamingo Hotel & Casino in 2008. The program ran for 11 years and featured 1,730(!) performances. Unfortunately, Donny and Marie chose to part ways in 2019.
Donny and Marie held back tears during their final performance as they played their last song, May Tomorrow Be a Wonderful Day.
“I got my life back on track at this time,” Marie concluded.
“I was a single parent with eight kids and a lot of baggage – along with their wounded hearts to repair. Not traveling and performing with Donny gave stability to my children, and for the first time, I felt at peace. I could be a mother while doing what I loved with someone I trusted, my brother Donny – I love you, Donny!”
“Why? “I mean, why not?” Donny Osmond inquires. “We have so many projects we want to work on separately. She has a career, and I have a career… We didn’t realize it would be 11 years. We began as a six-week contract and are now 11 years old.”
“We are two very different persons. He enjoys things organized and structured, but I prefer to breathe within the confines of the show’s structure. I’m always giving him a curveball. He goes insane, which makes me giggle, so I keep doing it,” Marie added.
Nevertheless, when their time in Las Vegas ended, reports circulated that they had been bickering and didn’t want to continue performing together.
“We announced this, then the next day they were like, ‘Oh, they’re fighting,’” Marie explained, adding that they have arguments like many brothers and sisters.
“And I’m like, ‘Oh come on, we get mad with each other every day. “Come on,” she said.
Thankfully, the alleged family feud between Marie and Donny did not endure long. Donny recently had his sister Marie as a guest performer at one of his Las Vegas shows.
Marie and Donny sang the hit song “I’m a Little Bit Country, I’m a Little Bit Rock ‘N’ Roll” together. Donny posted a photo of himself cuddling his beloved sister on Twitter with the caption “Together Again.”
“Words cannot explain how wonderful it was to see my lovely sister during my act on Saturday night at Harrah’s Las Vegas,” he continued.
“Someone cried out during my show’s Request Section, ‘Sing I’m A Little Bit Country, I’m A Little Bit Rock & Roll.’ I went out to the booth where Marie sat, and we sang our theme song together once more.”
Donny described the reaction of the audience. I wanted everyone to be able to see it. I’ll remember that time for the rest of my life. I appreciate it, sis. I adore you.
Donny and Marie Osmond will always hold a special place in our hearts.
