Donny Osmond
Rumors swirled last year that the brother of Season 6 finalist Marie Osmond would appear on the show. This season, the rumors are true – Donny Osmond will join the contestants on the eighth season of “Dancing with the Stars.” His partner will be Kym Johnson.
Donny was born the seventh child of Olive and George Osmond on December 9, 1957. His only sister is Marie, who is almost two years younger. The Osmonds are all of the Mormon faith.
Donny, along with older brothers Alan, Jay, Merrill, and Wayne, formed the pop group The Osmonds in the late ‘50s. They performed on “The Andy Williams Show” after Andy saw them perform at Disneyland and soon became regulars on the show, with Donny making his first appearance at the age of 5. Donny later became a teen heartthrob during the ‘70s. His first solo single, “Sweet and Innocent,” in 1971 went to #7. “Go Away Little Girl” was his first #1 hit, also released in 1971. He followed that up with “Puppy Love,” which went to #3 and “Hey Girl/I Knew You When, which went to #9. In 1974, Donny teamed with Marie on “I’m Leaving It All Up to You” and “Morning Side of the Mountain.”
By the mid-80s, Donny had left The Osmonds to go solo. He had a comeback hit with 1989’s “Soldier of Love.” When originally played, the DJs at the radio stations said the song was by a “mystery artist.” It became popular and the public was told it was Donny Osmond. The song eventually went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
But the ‘90s found Donny is a different place – Broadway. He starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from 1993 until 1997, appearing in over 2,000 performances. Donny would go on to star in Beauty and the Beast in 2006.
Donny and Marie would team up again in January 1976 in a variety show titled “Donny & Marie.” The show aired on ABC until May 1979. The VH1 series “Behind the Music” claims that ratings for the show began to decline after it was learned Donny was dating the woman he would eventually marry, Debbie Glen. Donny and Marie also starred together in a 1998 talk show of the same name. That show ran for two seasons. The two recently began appearing together at the Flamingo in Las Vegas for a headlining act that has been extended until 2012.
Donny has appeared on several more television shows, acting as the host of “The Pyramid” game show for three seasons and the British game shows “Challenge” and “Identity.” He also hosted “The Great American Dream Vote” in 2007, but it was cancelled after only two episodes. He has also made guest appearances on “Friends,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “Hannah Montana.” He had done animation voice work for “Johnny Bravo” and in the film Mulan.
Donny has been married to Debbie Glen since May 8, 1978. The couple has five sons and Donny became a grandfather in 2005.
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