MORE than four decades ago, audiences saw Donny Osmond with his equally popular sister, Marie, when they did Donny & Marie, that started as a brother-sister pop duo then graduated to a long-time TV show that ran for 11 years.

The Osmonds are far from signing off. This time, Donny and his nephew David Osmond, guested on Arc Salt Lake, to promote his fourth year on Las Vegas, his residency for the fourth year now. Salt Lake is where Donny’s family hails from.

“It’s basically six decades of show business in 90 minutes,” offered Donny. “It was jam-ful. My favorite part of the show is the request segment. I put all my 65 albums on a huge screen and for 20 minutes, the audience takes over.

“They pick any song I’ve ever recorded. It’s a whole new show. It changes every night. You got to go see the show. It’s amazing.”

The requests vary every night, from Twelfth of Never, Go Away Little Girl, Sacred Emotion.

David was Donny’s understudy when he did the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. David now takes the lead after being understudy for five years.

In February, Donny agreed to return to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to play the pharaoh in the staging in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Admittedly, he’s tired and exhausted after having started acting and singing onstage from the time he was merely seven. He has been entertaining since he was small.

“I’d love getting onstage and doing my entire life in 90 minutes,” Donny said. “It sounds kind of crazy. It starts huge, but it gets bigger and bigger and bigger for 90 minutes. It’s such a fun show.”

Donny has won major awards for being in Las Vegas. It’s just awesome to see his accomplishments onstage. “He still got it. He’s amazing,” David said proudly of his uncle.

Donny’s show takes its audience through a dynamic, energy-filled musical journey of his unparalleled life as one of the most recognized entertainers in the world.

The fan favorite, Auto-rap-ography, a rap song accompanied by milestone photos and videos of Donny’s impressive career of six decades. The show treats fans to Donny’s engaging performances and hit songs.

The spectacular set also includes an audience of interactive segment, where anyone can request any song that Donny has ever recorded in six decades.

He gives the audience a full Broadway production of his classic Disney hit from Mulan, I’ll Make a Man Out of You.

“My dancers, wait till you see them,” Donny bragged. “They’re unbelievable. Somebody gave me the nicest compliment. It was like they were in the living room for 90 minutes.

“I grew up in Vegas from the time I was seven, I was performing there already. My first show was Sahara, with Mickey Rooney and Shirley Bassey.

“Andy Williams gave me my start in show business. I do a tribute to him. We sing a duet. We sing Moon River on the show.

“I was in every hotel, some don’t exist anymore. It’s the most amazing place. It’s got different incarnations. It’s the entertainment capital of the world.

“Once you have your own show on the strip. I’m at Harrah’s. We do a tribute to the Donny & Marie show, the Osmond Brothers.”

Donny will pay tribute to his family through a rap. “It used to be Donny & Marie, which we did for 11 years,” Donny shared. “If you’re going to do it in Vegas and get the awards, you have to put everything in 90 minutes.

“I’m thankful that I’ve got the best people working with me. The dancers, the crew, the band and Harrah’s.”

Donny won Best Headliner in the 2024 Las Vegas Weekly Best of Vegas Awards, Best Resident Performer/Headliner, Best Production Show and Best Family-Friendly Show in the 2023 Las Vegas Review Journal Best of Las Vegas Awards.

On May 8, 1978, Donny married Debra Glenn of Billings, Montana. They have been together for 48 years now, blessed with five boys and 14 grandchildren.

Donny, who resides in Provo Utah, still gets to relax in his town. “I love my backyard and I planted a fruit tree for every grandchild,” he disclosed. “From the five sons, I just found out No. 15 grandchild is on the way. It’s a girl.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio