Who Are the Osmonds’ Parents?
Donny and Marie Osmond, and the rest of the Osmond clan, are one of the most famous musical families on Earth — perhaps second only to the Jacksons. But have you ever wondered what their parents, George Virl Osmond Sr. and Olive May Osmond, were like? What kind of mom and dad does it take to raise such a chart-topping brood?
Who were George Osmond Sr. and Olive Osmond?
George Virl Osmond Sr. was born in Etna, Wyoming, on October 13, 1917, only weeks before his father passed away. Raised by his mother, Agnes, in a blended household, George learned resilience early.
Olive, born May 4, 1925, in Malad City, Idaho, possessed both musical intuition and a sharp business mind. After serving in the Army during World War II, George met Olive at the Defense Depot Ogden in Utah. They married on December 1, 1944, and their partnership would span nearly six decades.
When their first two sons, Virl and Tom, were born nearly deaf, doctors warned the young couple about future pregnancies. Undeterred, they welcomed seven more children: Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy. Each would grow up singing, performing and eventually starring on television and radio.
Everett Collection
It all started with barbershop harmony in the family living room. George taught his boys to blend their voices, guiding them through church programs and small local shows. A failed audition for The Lawrence Welk Show could have discouraged them, but a chance meeting with the Lennon Sisters led to a booking at Disneyland. There, Walt Disney himself took an interest, and soon The Andy Williams Show turned the young quartet into national sensations.
Everett Collection
George left his post-Army career in real estate and insurance to manage his children full-time, while Olive kept the household running. She oversaw homeschooling through correspondence courses, managed costumes and travel logistics, and even shielded the children from a media eager to learn everything about the young stars. Tiger Beat journalist Ann Moses became a trusted ally because Olive insisted their story be handled with care.
However, it wasn’t always easy with such a big family. Life under George’s management was demanding. Donny once quipped that it felt like the United States Marine Corps, yet he also credited his father’s discipline for their professional success. In the late ’70s, George entered several risky business ventures. Debt piled up, but he refused to declare bankruptcy. Instead, he asked his children to tour until every cent was paid; their grueling effort erased those debts by 1983.
Ultimately, Olive suffered a stroke in 2001 and passed away three years later at age 79. George followed her on November 6, 2007, passing peacefully at home in Provo at age 90. Today, the couple rests side by side at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery. They left behind a family that has grown to 55 grandchildren, and 48 great-grandchildren.
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