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Donny Osmond has paid tribute to his older brother Alan, who died on Monday. He thanked the oldest member of their legendary family band for his “tireless work has helped build everything we have become.”
Surrounded by his wife and children, Alan died in Salt Lake City at the age of 76. The cause of death was not initially announced; Alan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987.
On Tuesday, Donny addressed his followers on Instagram and shared memories of growing up alongside Alan and appearing on stage with him in the ’60s and ’70s. Along with a black-and-white photo of Alan holding him as a baby, Donny wrote: “Even back then you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me. That’s how he was. My protector. My guide. The one who quietly shouldered so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine.”
Gratitude and farewell
He continued, “I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed – not just to me, but to every member of our family. I owe him more than I can ever fully express in words. I love you, Alan. Thank you for always being there for me.”
Her brother Merrill also publicly remembered Alan. He wrote that the last conversation between the two was a real heartfelt conversation. Although Alan was “struggling,” when Merrill “made the odd joke, he found the strength to giggle – and then he smiled.”
The Osmonds formed in the late 1950s; Initially the brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay performed as a quartet. Youngest brother Donny joined the group in the mid-sixties, and in the seventies the family band had a number one hit with “One Bad Apple” – the beginning of an impressive series of successes.
Mourning the loss of Wayne Osmond
In January 2025, Wayne Osmond, the second oldest sibling in the family band, died at the age of 73.
