In the 1960s, the Osmonds made their public debut and took the country by storm.
The group consisted of four singing brothers who touted themselves as a barbershop quartet.
Over time, audiences came to know the entire family including all nine of the Osmond siblings.
As an openly Mormon family, the Osmond clan was admired for their wholesome image and strong moral values.
Collectively, the sibling superstars sold more than 100 million albums.
The group’s pop-cultural influence spans more than six decades, and their staying power is unmatched.
Scroll on to see how the Osmonds have evolved in the last half-century.
Jimmy, the youngest Osmond, came along in 1967.
The nine siblings grew up in a loving but strict household.
George and Olive were devoted Mormons and raised their children in the LDS Church.
For the young Osmonds, religion was the epicenter of life.
“When it came to showbiz, our grandparents established this.
In addition to worshiping at the LDS Church, the Osmond family had a strong affinity for music.
The children learned to sing, dance, and play various instruments.
During family nights, they entertained each other with cheerful songs and riveting musical performances.
But there was also an intense side to George Osmond.
However, Donny defended his father.
“When you look at his background, the man is a hero,” he toldThe Guardianin 2001.
“Especially keeping nine children together in the world of show business.
He really did it right, in my opinion.
He disciplined us the best way he possibly could.”
Meanwhile, George had been teaching his younger sons how to harmonize.
Soon, it became apparent that the children could use their talents to earn money.
So, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay Osmond formed a singing group.
They called themselves the Osmond Brothers Quartet and started performing at state fairs.
To improve their communication with Virl and Tom, the youngerOsmonds learned American Sign Language.
Like their younger siblings, Virl and Tom were passionate about music and movement.
They took up tap dancing, as well as playing saxophone and piano.
The boys made numerous on-stage appearances with their celebrity siblings throughout the years.
In 2020, Donny paid tribute to his eldest brother, Virl, onFacebook.
We all love his contagious enthusiasm and giant heart.”
The brothers quickly became small-town legends but they dreamed of capturing a much larger audience.
So, the siblings took their show on the road and headed to Los Angeles.
In 1961, they stood before the doors of a major Hollywood studio.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out.
Rather than sulking about it, the family decided to spend a day at Disneyland.
“Walt Disney actually discovered us,” Jay Osmond recalled in a 2018 interview withCrowsfeat.
“He had us singing at Disneyland and he put us on four of his television shows.
I was six years old.”
Disney opened numerous doors for the singing group.
The siblings performed on the series from 1962 to 1969.
Fans were in awe of the adorable foursome.
Donny joined the act in 1963, followed by Marie in 1964.
They made performing look effortless but according to Jay Osmond, it was actually quite stressful.
Their first chart-topper, “One Bad Apple,” was released in 1970.
Along with their new sound, the brothers also got a fresh look.
They traded their tuxedos for fringed vests and glitzy bellbottoms.
They performed choreographed dances and flashed their megawatt smiles to scores of screaming fans.
Channeling the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, they sported long, shaggy hair.
The group generated a colossal fanfare that was dubbed “Osmondmania.”
Jimmy, the youngest Osmond, was busy notching out his own hit songs.
At age 5, he earned a gold record in Japan for his single “My Little Darling.”
“We lived in a bubble,” Merril recalled in an interview withOn Magazine.
“And that bubble wasn’t penetrated by anybody because security was so intense around us.”
One of their contemporaries was the Jackson 5, a group of ultra-talented siblings from Gary, Indiana.
Their ranks included a young Michael Jackson, who would later be known as the legendary King of Pop.
Many fans assumed the groups were rivals; however, they were actually friends.
Jay Osmond remembered Jackson fondly during an interview withU.K.
“We have so many fun memories of the times that we got to hang out with those guys.
Young girls swooned over the handsome crooner and his cutesy songs.
Teen magazines like “Tiger Beat” portrayed him as a doe-eyed prince charming.
Everywhere he went, Osmond was received by frantic, screaming fans.
However, it wasn’t long before he outgrew his teen idol image.
These days, however, Osmond has come to embrace his old, sappy tunes.
“It was a tough transition, don’t get me wrong,” the singer toldPage Six.
It’s such an important part of my memory in my childhood.'
And I realized, they’re right.
It just doesn’t belong to me.
That all changed in the early ’70s when Marie decided to go solo as a country music artist.
“Then Loretta Lynn came along,” the singer recalled, perThe Washington Post.
I saw that women were really treated wonderfully well, and so I went into country music.”
The song soared to number one on the country music charts.
The siblings teamed up again in 2008 for a residency in Las Vegas.
They spent 11 years performing in Sin City until the show wrapped in 2019.
We started out as a six-week contract and here we are 11 years later."
He made several unsuccessful comeback attempts, including two unreleased albums and a failed Broadway show.
The singer was declared a washed-up former celebrity and nearly went bankrupt.
“The greatest thing that ever happened to me was I lost my career,” Donny toldPage Six.
Donny isn’t the only Osmond to have endured a crisis.
The family has also faced numerous health struggles.
In 1994, Wayne Osmond was diagnosed with and survived a rare form of brain cancer.
Additionally, Alan Osmond and his son, David Osmond, both live with the debilitating condition multiple sclerosis.
Still, the Osmonds have handled all of their hardships with grace.
According to the siblings, family and faith are what keep them going.
“We’re very loyal to each other,” Marie toldKSL TVin 2023.
“We love each other ferociously.
And I don’t believe anything will ever change that.”
The Osmond family is still going strong
Marie Osmond released her latest album in 2021.
She’s also appeared on Broadway and was briefly a co-host on “The Talk.”
The pop icon participated in Season 5 of “Dancing With The Stars,” where she placed third.
Donny Osmond, the former teen heartthrob, continues to perform on tour.
In 2009, he won first place on “Dancing With The Stars.”
Donny has also appeared on several game shows, including “The Masked Singer.”
Merrill Osmond hosted an inspirational podcast with his son, Justin Osmond.
Jay Osmond moved to England and wrote a semi-biographical musical called “The Osmonds: A New Musical.”
Alan stepped away from the spotlight to raise his eight sons.
Wayne Osmond is retired, but he’s enjoying life with his children and grandkids.
Jimmy, the youngest Osmond, dabbled in acting and producing.
In 2018, he suffered a stroke while performing on stage and was forced to retire.
These days, the former child star maintains a low profile.
