When Donny Osmond watches his grandchildren play, it hits him how vastly different his own childhood was. “I see my little grandkids and think, ‘I worked with Bob Hope when I was their age’ — it’s mind-blowing,” he exclusively tells Closer in a candid conversation. Reflecting on those early days, Donny admits his youth was consumed by work—practicing dance routines in front of mirrors and mastering five-part harmonies at the piano. But it’s this rigorous training and discipline that he credits for his ability to endure six decades in the entertainment world. And he’s not stopping anytime soon. In 2023, his Las Vegas residency, Donny Osmond: The Las Vegas Residency, earned accolades, including the prestigious Best Headliner award.
“What happened back then means so much more to me now, because I once lost everything,” Donny reveals with a candid honesty. At 66, he’s a seasoned showbiz vet with a treasure trove of stories and experiences. His journey began at the tender age of 5, performing with his older brothers’ barbershop quartet, the Osmond Brothers, who were regulars on The Andy Williams Show from 1962 to 1967. Donny recalls growing up in a world far removed from other kids. “My friends were adults and legends,” he reminisces. Some of his most cherished memories are of learning directly from the greats, soaking in their wisdom like a sponge.
“Andy Williams was like a second dad to me,” Donny shares. “He taught me how to breathe while singing, and gave me lessons on how to do it right.” Those early years were nothing short of a masterclass. “Watching Elvis Presley command an audience was one of the most influential experiences of my life,” he says. “And you can’t learn comedy from Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle, or Bob Hope in a university—but I got to work with them when I was just a kid. That’s priceless.”
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Donny Osmond and Marie: The Sibling Duo Who Conquered TV
As a young boy, Donny formed a special bond with his sister, Marie, that would shape both their lives forever. “Marie and I were best friends from the start,” he says warmly. “When my brothers were out performing and traveling, it was Donny and Marie back home playing in the backyard together.”
This unique connection captivated TV audiences, turning Donny & Marie into a massive hit from 1976 to 1979. “We were the youngest co-hosts of a television show in history,” Donny notes. “That natural rapport we had as kids translated directly onto the screen. It wasn’t scripted—it was real.” By the time Donny & Marie premiered, Donny was already a seasoned pro. “At 12, I started recording ‘One Bad Apple,’ and that’s when music really clicked for me,” he remembers. “Up until then, I was performing by rote. But at 12, the creative juices kicked in, and everything changed.”
After “One Bad Apple” hit the top of the charts, the Osmonds began recording songs with Donny singing lead. Tracks like “Go Away Little Girl” and “Puppy Love” turned him into a teen heartthrob—but it came with its own set of challenges. “My image was teenybopper, so the girls loved me, but the guys hated me,” he admits. The toughest moment came when Rolling Stone magazine took a shot at the teenage Donny. “I was 15 or 16, and they wrote this article saying, ‘The worst day in rock ’n’ roll history was the day Donny Osmond was born,’” he recalls, still wincing at the memory. Despite his immense popularity, Donny often felt misunderstood and mistreated by the media. “Once, we played an arena in Nashville, and the crowd went wild. But the next day, the newspaper tore me apart,” he says.
TV’s Donny & Marie propelled him to another level of fame, bridging his past with legends like Bob Hope, Milton Berle, and Bing Crosby as guests. Donny fondly remembers Lucille Ball appearing in a comedy sketch and taking charge. “She changed the lighting, the script, the direction—but she did it in such a professional way that we all listened,” he says. “And it turned out amazing.”
By 1979, Donny & Marie won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Variety Program, but the grind of a weekly series took its toll. “We were producing an album’s worth of music every week,” he explains. “Learning comedy skits, concert segments, choreography—it was nonstop. And when we weren’t working on the show, we were on tour. It was like my childhood all over again.”
After the whirlwind of his early career, Donny sought a more personal life. In 1978, he married Debbie Glenn, his secret sweetheart for three years, and their first son, Don Jr., was born the following year.
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The 1980s: A Decade of Struggles and Comeback
As the 1980s rolled in, new challenges emerged for Donny. Like many who find success young, he struggled to be taken seriously as an adult performer. “Through the ‘80s, I was pretty much in obscurity,” Donny admits. “In 1988, I had to seriously consider changing careers because nothing was working. I couldn’t get a record deal. My career had hit rock bottom.”
The difficulties mounted. By the late 1970s, the Osmond family fortune was estimated at $70 million to $100 million, but poor decisions by outside business partners squandered it all. By 1983, the family was broke. “I lost everything,” Donny recalls. “And I had a family to support.” Despite his fame, he had to start submitting demos to anyone who could help revive his career. “I had to swallow my pride and realize I was starting from scratch,” he says. “It was painful.”
His career resurgence began with the unexpected success of his 1988 single “Soldier of Love,” which initially launched in the U.K. but eventually gained traction in the U.S. “The ‘80s were the worst and best decade of my life,” Donny reflects. “Because I lost it all, and then realized how much my career meant to me when I got it back.”
Donny Osmond Today: Celebrating a Legacy
After 11 years performing alongside Marie on the Las Vegas Strip, Donny embarked on a new residency in 2021, celebrating his enduring legacy as a performer. “My 90-minute show covers 60 years of show business. Every era, every song—it’s all there,” he says. In
