George and Olive Osmond

 
The Osmond family—who has been entertaining us for 50 years—is an amazing musical legacy started by one extraordinary couple. George and Olive Osmond had nine children, who then had 55 children, who then had 48 kids of their own!

Sadly, the patriarch of the Osmond family passed away on November 6, 2007. George Osmond Sr. was 90 years old.

More than 100 Osmonds had already been invited to appear on The Oprah Show, and the family decided that it was important for the show to go on.

See how we got all of the Osmonds to Chicago. Watch  

"Donny called us to say the family would be here and that this show would be in honor of their dad," Oprah says. "He also told us that they wanted this show to be a celebration of the life of his dad, so they're here today to take us on a once-in-a-lifetime trip down memory lane."
Donny and Marie perform together on Oprah's stage.

 
She's a little bit country, he's a little bit rock and roll. With a hit variety show, Donny and Marie Osmond were America's favorite brother and sister—millions tuned in every week.

Their older brothers—Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay—paved the way as regulars on the legendary Andy Williams Show. Donny made his solo debut at age 5 and wowed Andy's viewers. When Donny joined his brothers' famous group, Osmond mania swept the globe and his career skyrocketed.

Donny and Marie were launched as a twosome in 1975. An ABC executive was so impressed, he signed the teens to a primetime deal. In 1976, the squeaky clean siblings made history as the youngest entertainers ever to host their own variety show and Friday nights became synonymous with Donny and Marie. It was four solid seasons of family fun with guest appearances by the Osmond Brothers and the biggest stars of the day.

Watch Relive the memories as Donny and Marie sing "A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock and Roll."

Thirty years later, Donny and Marie perform together again, singing a medley of their biggest hits on Oprah's stage!
Marie Osmond sings 'Paper Roses.'

 
Marie is a woman who can hold her own—she's the only girl in a family with eight brothers! Marie was just 3 years old when she danced her way into America's hearts on The Andy Williams Show. At 13, Marie was the first female artist to debut on the country charts at number one with her song "Paper Roses." As a teenager, she was already a Grammy-nominated star.

Her sassy style on The Donny and Marie Show got Hollywood's attention. She went on to star in TV movies and opened to sold-out crowds on Broadway in The King and I.

Today, Marie presides over a multimillion dollar doll empire. The Olive doll, named after her mother, broke QVC sales records.

Still, her proudest creation is her family. She has eight children, ages 5 to 24.

Marie's personal ups and downs have played out in the spotlight. In 1999, she revealed her secret struggle with postpartum depression on The Oprah Show and in her New York Times best-seller, Behind the Smile. In spring 2007, Marie also announced she's divorcing her husband of 20 years.
Marie Osmond discusses her fall on 'Dancing with the Stars.'

 
Forty years after twirling with Andy Williams, Marie Osmond took center stage in the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars—this time doing a sexy tango. After an October 2007 performance, more than 20 million people watched Marie faint on live television. In typical fashion, Marie bounced back up with her trademark smile.

Marie says her fainting was related to the fierce wildfires in California. "Well, I had allergies and I wasn't doing my breathing thing because I wasn't singing, right? But the air quality because of the fires ... our dressings rooms were outside, our hair, our makeup, and I got out there and I couldn't breathe," she says. "I woke on the floor and I saw my kids around me because my older ones were there, and I saw Jonathan, my partner who I dance with, and then I saw [Dancing with the Stars host] Tom Bergeron and I went, 'Oh, crap. What happened?'"
Marie Osmond presents Oprah with a special gift.

 
 Marie says her father—with whom she shares a birthday—had been planning to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show with the rest of the family. After his death, Marie says the family discussed whether or not to appear on the show. "We talked about it, and my father would want us all to be here," she says.

Marie—a self-proclaimed Daddy's little girl—had dedicated her dance on Dancing with the Stars to her father the night before he died. "He saw it that night and they said he got up the next morning and it was one of the best days he had," she says. "He took a shower, he sat down on his bed, he laid down with a smile and he passed away. And he wanted to dance with my mom. So he moved on."

Marie's mom, Olive, died on Mother's Day in 2004. "He didn't want to be outdone," she jokes. "He wanted to be talked about on Oprah."

Despite the family's pain, Marie says everyone is grateful for the chance to be together on the show. "This is a rare moment. We won't always have everybody. There will be a few that have to work or whatever," she says. "And this kind of an opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime."

To thank Oprah for that opportunity, Marie has a special gift for her—a one-of-a-kind doll of Oprah as a child. "We love you as a family," she says. "I'm a child advocate with Children's Miracle Network. You're a child's advocate. Who knew that that little baby would do so much to change the world?"
Donny Osmond performs 'Solider of Love.'

 
When you say the name "Donny Osmond," women still act like giddy teenagers! Donny joined his brothers' group when he was just 6 years old and exploded into the hearts of adoring fans all over the world.

With his puppy dog eyes and million dollar smile, Donny Osmond was one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the 1970s. Then, Donny met a nice girl named Debbie and got married. No longer America's most eligible bachelor, some disappointed fans burned his albums in protest.

In the years that followed, near bankruptcy, a faltering music career and a failed attempt at Broadway threatened to destroy this golden boy's image...but not for long. In 1989, a breakthrough hit called "Soldier of Love" put him back on the charts. His six-month run starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was so spectacular, it got extended to six years.

Yet behind the scenes, Donny battled debilitating panic attacks and anxiety. He wrote about his struggles in a best-selling autobiography, Life Is What You Make It.
Donny Osmond talks about being a teen heartthrob.

 
Today, Donny is a 49-year-old father of five and a grandfather. He and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 29 years.

With 55 albums under his belt, he's singing to sold-out crowds and still making the ladies swoon, but Donny says being a teen heartthrob wasn't all it's cracked up to be. "It got to a point where there was so much adulation but I was very lonely," he says. "You saw the adulation and the screams [at the concerts] but you go to a very silent hotel room and, you know, being the Mormon that I am, I didn't have any premarital sex or anything like that so that was just out of the question."

When Donny did meet his wife, he had to date her secretly. "My wife dated my brother Jay for a while," he says. "And I kind of stole her from him."

It all started on a double date, Donny says. "We had more fun than our respective dates. So eventually I stole her away from Jay."

But not to worry, Jay found a "jewel," Marie says. "They're perfectly paired. It's interesting. As I watched all my brothers' marriages, they really complement each other," she says. "I promise you this, I wish my parents could raise every man out there. I have great brothers."
Donny and Marie Osmond remember their father.

 
Donny and Marie say their father instilled values of honor and integrity into every member of the family. Both say that George was their rock and their strength.

It's an emotional time for the family, but Donny says they feel like George and Olive are watching over them. "We believe we're an eternal family. We know that we will be with our parents again. We know it. We don't just believe it. We know it," he says. "It's so comforting for us to know that we will be together again."

Marie says she can feel her father with her. "There's a warmth in your heart when the spirit speaks," she says. In fact, she says she felt it as she planned flowers for her dad's funeral. "I was sitting there and all of a sudden it was like, should we put flowers down all of the pews? And I swear, Oprah, it was like he said, 'Will you quit spending money?' I swear to you that was so like my dad. And I started laughing."

Donny says everyone is mourning the loss of his dad, but the family will continue to celebrate his life. "We celebrate our parents' lives both because what an example they were to all of us—to all of us on stage—of what a great couple, what a great relationship should be like. They didn't just talk the talk. They walked the walk," Donny says. "Isn't it interesting how two people can raise a family in show business, nine children, and we still love each other? We still have our problems. We still have our issues. We're a normal family. But the mere fact that we can all come together and still be a tight, close-knit family, that's a testimony to my parents."
The Osmond Brothers perform.

 
This family's amazing journey began with The Osmond Brothers. Their remarkable rise to fame started in a small Utah town, where George and Olive Osmond raised their nine children in a house filled with music. Sons Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay say they remember singing during family road trips.

The four boys started singing at state fairs as the Osmond Brothers Quartet to raise money for the two oldest Osmond sons, Tom and Virl, who were born deaf and needed hearing aids.

On a family trip to Disneyland in 1961, the brothers sang along with a barbershop quartet on Main Street. That impromptu performance got them noticed by Walt Disney himself, who gave the boys their national television debut.

The family harmony then caught the attention of legendary singer Andy Williams, who put The Osmond Brothers on his show for seven years. Younger brothers Donny and Jimmy also got in on the act. Together, they could do it all. They sang, danced, ice skated and even had their own cartoon!

In the 1970s, Osmond mania packed concerts with thousands of screaming girls hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite brother. More than 77 million records later, what started out as a family singing in the back of a car is now a 50-year musical legacy.

Watch Watch the Osmond Brothers perform "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."

Now, The Osmond Brothers are back and singing their biggest hits for Oprah!
Tom and Virl Osmond

 
Although he is not part of The Osmond Brothers act, Virl is the big brother of the group—he is the oldest Osmond brother. He may not be a singer, but Virl is one of the reasons the family act began.

Next in line is Tom, known as the second "unsung" hero of the Osmond family.

"Can you imagine being born in this family and not being able to sing?" Marie says. "My two oldest brothers are my heroes."
Alan Osmond

 
Alan is the third oldest brother and the eldest performer in The Osmond Brothers group. He and his wife Suzanne have eight sons who have started their own family act called Osmond 2ndG.

Watch Alan's sons perform "I May Never Pass This Way Again." Watch
Wayne Osmond

 
Fourth in line is Wayne, know as the jokester of the family. He and his wife Kathlyn are growing the Osmond family tree with five children and three grandchildren.
Merrill Osmond

 
Merrill is right in the middle of his siblings as the fifth Osmond child. He and his wife Mary have five children and four grandchildren.

Merrill shares the secret behind The Osmond Brothers' flashy dance moves. "We used to be instructors in karate and that's where some of the moves came from," Merrill says.
Jay Osmond

 
Jay is the youngest of the original Osmond Brothers group. Looking back at old clips of the group singing and dancing in flashy costumes, Jay is able to laugh at himself. "I can't believe we did that," he says. Not only was he a part of the group, he choreographed The Osmond Brothers and Donny and Marie's famous moves, including their signature kick! "Jay was the choreographer—that was his fault," Marie jokes.

Although the brothers laugh at their old moves, those memorable steps were loved by their fans. "It's interesting, little things Jay would do. We come to our concerts and people are doing those moves. It's kind of weird but so cool," Jimmy says.

Jay and his wife Kandilyn have three sons, the smallest Osmond clan. "We may be small, but we're tall," Jay says.
Jimmy Osmond

 
Jimmy is the youngest Osmond brother, but he's all grown up now with four children and a wife, Michelle. He is the mastermind behind the family's highly anticipated reunion tour, which will bring the Osmond brothers and Donny and Marie together on tour for the first time in 25 years. The tour begins this spring in the UK, and for those who miss it, the Osmond's 50th Anniversary Concert Special will air on PBS in March 2008.

After so many years in show business, do Jimmy and his brothers still remember all the dance moves? "Frighteningly so, we do," Jimmy says. Although the group can still perform their old songs to perfection, Jimmy says one thing has changed. "We dropped the bell-bottoms," he says. "We don't wear those anymore."
Marie Osmond performing with her Dancing with the Stars partner

 
The Osmonds have been in the spotlight for 50 years but family has always been their number one priority, and George and Olive started it all. Their 60-year romance began on a dance floor during WWII. Marie and her Dancing with the Stars partner Jonathan take the stage to perform a tribute to her parents' love by dancing to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."

At 48 years old, Marie shows she's in great shape—and her dancing brings a stronger message as well. "I did the show initially for my kids. But for women who find themselves like me, a single mom, you know, at 48...life is not over. I would rather climb a mountain than crawl in a hole," Marie says.
More than 100 Osmonds singing together

 
For the first time on stage the children and grandchildren of Viril, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy and Marie sing together. The Osmonds give George Osmond a final farewell by singing the signature sign-off written by Alan for the Donny and Marie Show, a song meant to be a prayer to express the Osmonds' gratitude for their many blessings.

May tomorrow be a perfect day, may you find love and laughter along the way. May God keep you in his tender care, till he brings us together again.

Learn more about the Osmonds tour and music.

Go behind the scenes with the Osmond family!

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