Alan Osmond

Osmond was born in Ogden, Utah, the son of Olive May (née Davis; 1925–2004) and George Virl Osmond (1917–2007). He was the oldest of the seven siblings who could sing, as the two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom, are hearing impaired.

Starting in 1958, Alan and three of his younger brothers (Wayne, Merrill, and Jay in their respective age orders) began singing as a barbershop quartet. In 1961, the group headed to Los Angeles to audition for The Lawrence Welk Show only for host Lawrence Welk to refuse to hear them sing; they met the Lennon Sisters at this audition, who directed them to Disneyland, where they found paying work as performers.^[2] It was at Disnelyand that Jay Emerson Williams, Andy Williams's father, discovered the group. In 1962, the four Osmonds were cast over a seven-year period on NBC's The Andy Williams Show, a musical variety program They also appeared in nine episodes of the 1963–1964 ABC western television series, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, with Alan in the role of young Micah Kissel.^[3]

During much of the Osmonds' career, Alan, being the oldest of the group, was the band's creative leader, playing piano and guitar, co-writing many of their songs with Merrill,^[2] co-producing most of their recordings and arranging the dance choreography (he nevertheless seldom sang anything more than backing vocals, in contrast to his younger brothers).^[4]

He mostly stopped performing with the group after 2007, and what he has professed to be his final performance with them was October 13, 2018, at Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu,^[5] although, Alan did appear for a get-together with Jay, Wayne and Merrill in 2019, as per request for their sister Marie Osmond's 60th birthday. He was still writing songs at the time of his last performances, including a composition to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Orem, Utah.^[2]

After a brief courtship with singer Karen Carpenter,^[6] Osmond married Suzanne Pinegar on July 16, 1974. He and Suzanne have eight sons, who perform as the Osmond Brothers Second Generation: Michael Alan (born 1975); Nathan George Osmond (born 1977); Douglas Kenneth Osmond (born 1978); David Levi Osmond (born 1979); Scott Merrill Osmond (born 1981); Jonathon Pinegar "Jon" Osmond (born 1983); Alexander Thomas "Alex" Osmond (born 1988); and Tyler James Osmond (born 1990). Alan, like all the Osmonds, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; seven of his sons have served LDS missions,^[7] while the youngest son Tyler did not serve.^{[citation needed]}

In 1980, Alan Osmond, along with his brother Merrill Osmond, created Stadium of Fire, which has become one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in the United States.^[7]

Alan enlisted in the California Army National Guard in the late 1960s. He served at Fort Ord in northern California as a 144th artillery unit clerk.

His son, David Osmond, lead singer of the group Osmonds 2nd Generation, participated in the eighth season of American Idol on January 28, 2009, with a pass to Hollywood.^[8] However, due to laryngitis, he was not able to make it past Hollywood week. David also substitutes for his uncle Donny in stage shows with his aunt Marie, and his song "We Are One" was used as the theme song to the Glenn Beck Radio Program from 2016 to 2017; he also hosted a brief revival of Wonderama in 2017. Since 2021, David Osmond has been a host of KUTV's lifestyle/infotainment program Fresh Living.^[9]

Another one of Alan's sons, Nathan Osmond, found success as an independent country musician.^[10] Osmond had initially warned his children against following him into the entertainment business because of the touring commitments but later relented, stating his pride in his children following in the Osmond family tradition.^[7]

In September 2024, Osmond released his autobiography, One Way Ticket.^[7]

In 1987, Osmond was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis.^[11] His son David also has the disease, and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005;^[12] David's case has, to date, been less severe than his father's.^[7] Osmond has credited his faith, and belief in the preexistence of the soul, for giving him hope and optimism for the future in the face of his condition.^[7]

In November 2021, Alan and Suzanne Osmond were honored as Pillars of Utah Valley. In 2000, Alan Osmond received the Dorothy Corwin Spirit of Life Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In his acceptance speech, he stated that he had done some time in the military reserve and that he had taken karate lessons from Chuck Norris, both of which reinforced the "you can do it" attitude that he learned from his father. His motto is, "I may have MS, but MS does NOT have me!" He currently runs the OneHeart Foundation which Alan and his wife founded, and also works as a motivational speaker.^[13]