Donny Osmond’s Father Instilled One Thing in Him During Time in Family Band
Donny Osmond is one of those rare child stars turned teen idol turned adult superstars who never really suffered the downfalls of fame. Perhaps his famous family can be credited with keeping him level-headed all of these years. In a new documentary, Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands, Osmond opens up about working with his family and how his father, George Osmond, helped to instill a strong work ethic in all of his children.
“My dad’s work ethic was something else,” the 66-year-old explained. “I remember being this tiny kid, watching my brothers perfecting harmonies in front of the piano, making sure everything was just right. My dad was a former army sergeant, and he brought that discipline to our family. I never wanted to disappoint him.”
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The Osmonds, consisting of siblings Donny, Wayne, Jay, Alan, Jimmy and Merrill, started seeing success, and their father believed that was a reason to keep pushing forward. “When we hit big, my father would say, ‘Back to the rehearsal hall,” he continued. “Learn a new number. Keep this engine going.’ Having that strong father figure was crucial for us, but sometimes, it was a lot.”
Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images
Now, looking back, Osmond can compare his experience as a child star in a band with his siblings to Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. He said of the two young boy bands: “If you look at the Osmonds and the Jackson 5, the comparisons of the two families are just uncanny. There are nine children in each family. Mike and I are both the seventh child of nine. Our mothers’ birthdays are on the same day. Michael and I are the same age.”
Paramount+/Everett Collection
“We would get together and just laugh and reminisce about the comparisons and the similarities,” Osmond continued. “Michael said something to me one day and he said, ‘Donny, you’re the only person on this planet that knows what my childhood is like.’”
Watch Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands on Paramount+ now.
Remind 
Where Are They Now? Child Stars and Teen Idols
June 2024
What happened to those teen idols and child stars we swayed to, swooned over and watched as they grew up (while we grew up as well)?
Buy This Issue