Marie and her ex-husband, Brian Blosil, were married from 1986 until their 2007 divorce. During that time, they had two biological children and adopted five more. One of their adopted kids is daughter Jessica Blosil. When Marie was named Person of the Year by Diane Sawyer, she confessed that she cried when Jessica came out to her when she was 17 years old.
Having many gay friends, Marie knew the kind of judgment that the queer community gets from other people, which is why she cried. In her words “I didn’t want that for my child.” We get her, but luckily things are getting better each and every day.
Breaking Records
Let’s take a break from Donny for a minute and focus on some of the other Osmond family members. Take Jimmy Osmond, the youngest of the Osmond family broke records in the UK which he still holds to this very day. The 1972 song, "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool," reached number one in the UK singles charts when Jimmy was only 9 years old.
Jimmy was henceforth the youngest artist to reach the top spot in Britain. The boy, now a man, recalls sadly, “The home I grew up in was a string of hotels across the world. I don’t remember my first home, which was somewhere in Los Angeles.” Sad!
Saving up for Hearing Aids
With all the musical talent in the Osmond family, it's surprising to learn that two family members don't have the biological ability to appreciate it. Tom and George Virl Osmond, the oldest Osmond brothers were both born deaf. Olive and George Osmond, their parents, couldn’t afford to buy hearing aids and so the other brothers got together to perform and raise money for them.
This is how it all started, by going around from place to place trying to save for hearing aids. Darling, right? What’s even cuter is the Osmonds often signed during their performances to keep Tom and George up-to-speed.
Resisting Peer Pressure
Donny was always made fun of for being uncool growing up. Surprising, considering he grew up to be a world-famous pop star. He could get any girl he wanted and be a serious rock and roller but thought he was too young and that it would tarnish his pious Mormon beliefs. He didn't use any illegal substances and he swore to remain pure until he was married.
He has stated he is proud of himself for resisting the urges that come with his kind of fame and found himself giving advice to other upstart acts like Prince and Michael Jackson.
Keeping God First
God has had a special place in the lives of Donny and the rest of his family. They always say that “God comes first.” Donny often gets asked the question of how he had stayed successful in the harsh world of show business to which he always replies, “God first.” Well, what’s second then? Family of course. These things help keep him grounded.
He said that this formula is what has helped them through the years, despite what others might have thought. Of his critics, he has said, “You’re not naive growing up in this business. I grew up fast.”