Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. He has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. Donny became a teen idol in the early 1970s as a solo singer, while continuing to sing with his older brothers. He, Bobby Sherman, and David Cassidy were the biggest "Cover Boy" pop stars for Tiger Beat magazine in the early 1970s. He had his first solo hit with "Sweet and Innocent", which peaked at #7 in the U.S. in 1971. His solo songs "Go Away Little Girl" (1971) (#1 in the U.S.), "Puppy Love" (U.S. #3), and "Hey Girl/I Knew You When" (U.S. #9) (1972) vaulted him into international fame. The fame was further advanced by his appearance on the Here's Lucy show, where he sang "Too Young" to Lucille Ball's niece, played by Eve Plumb, and sang with Lucie Arnaz ("I'll Never Fall in Love Again").
For over thirty five years, he and younger sister Marie have gained fame as Donny & Marie, partly due to the success of their 1976–79 self-titled variety series, which aired on ABC. The duo also did a 1998–2000 talk show and have been headlining in Las Vegas since 2008. Between a highly successful teen career in the 1970s, and his rebirth in the 1990s, Donny's career was stymied during the 1980s by what some have perceived as his "boy scout" image. Donny stated on the May 1, 2009 Larry King Live show that longtime friend Michael Jackson suggested he change his name to boost his image. Donny's agent even suggested that spreading false rumors about drug arrest charges might recharge his career. Donny felt said allegations would have familial ramifications, and couldn't reconcile how lying to create a nefarious drug image could be explained to his children, nieces and nephews. In 1989, he had two big-selling recordings, the first of which, "Soldier of Love," was initially credited to a "mystery artist" by some radio stations.
From 1992–1997 Donny played Joseph in the Toronto production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Creator Andrew Lloyd Webber, impressed by Donny's talents and the show's successful six year run, chose him for the 1999 film version.
Following Marie's stint on Dancing with the Stars in 2007, the pair teamed up for a limited engagement in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. Beginning September 2008, Donny and Marie began playing the 750-seat showroom at the Flamingo Hotel. "Donny & Marie" is a 90-minute show. The singing siblings are backed by eight dancers and a nine piece band. Donny and Marie sing together at the beginning and end of the show, and have solo segments in between.
In 2009, Donny won the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Like the rest of his family, he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In retrospect, he has written, "It would have been nice to be able to have served a regular full-time mission, but when I was of that age, my career was such that everyone, including my parents and the leaders of the church, thought that I could do a lot of good in the world by continuing being in the public eye, by living an exemplary life and sharing my beliefs in every way that I could". He continues sharing his beliefs in an extensive letters-and-comments portion of his website.
Donny married Debra Glenn on May 8, 1978, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they have five sons: Donald Clark Osmond, Jr., Jeremy James Osmond, Brandon Michael Osmond, Christopher Glenn Osmond, and Joshua Davis Osmond.
Donny became a grandfather on August 21, 2005, when his second son, Jeremy, and daughter-in-law Melisa had a son, Dylan James Osmond. His granddaughter Emery Anne was born on February 25, 2008. Donny's third son Brandon married Shelby Hansen in 2008. Their son, Daxton Michael was born on June 18, 2010. Donny's son, Don (Donald Clark Osmond, Jr), married Jessica Nelson on October 1, 2010, in the Salt Lake Temple.
Donny states that he has had a tremendous public image struggle since Donny & Marie ended in 1979. He has been described as 'unhip', as a 'boy scout', and has been the butt of innumerable jokes, including appearing in the video "White & Nerdy" at the request of his friend, Yankovic, since he was 'the whitest guy [he] could think of'. His image has seemed such a liability that one professional publicist even suggested that Osmond purposefully get arrested for drug possession in order to change his image. In March 2010, Donny criticized Lady Gaga and Beyoncé for using profanity and sex in their Telephone video.
Donny and Marie have each had their struggles in life, as all of us of the human condition do. They have, admirably, stood for moral principles over the course of their careers. But how does one, truly, fight depression, the pain of losing a child to suicide, or deal with the revelation of a daughter or the truth about the greed and fiscal mismanagement of a parent who encouraged his kids to use show business to build an empire without the true God in your corner. Please pray, in these next two weeks, that God will break through to Donny and Marie that the religious system they have chosen to follow is a false one and will introduce them to a true relationship with his only-begotten Son -- our King of kings and Lord of lords -- Jesus Christ! --Heidi