Marie Osmond is remembering her late brother Alan Osmond with a touching Instagram message — though she admitted it’s “something [not] easily done.”
“As his only sister, I know I had a different relationship with him than he had with his brothers, and I must say I loved that!😄 He was always very protective of me (not so sure I love that one)😂 but he was always there if I needed him!” the singer, 66, captioned several throwback photos of Alan and of their family through the years.
Marie went on to gush about his many “incredible” talents — such as “singing to performing to playing multiple instruments” — and remembered his accolades — such as writing “hit records and albums,” producing TV shows, “large events and music videos,” including for her song “No Stopping Your Heart.”
She also recalled the sweet moment Alan thanked her for letting him get on stage and perform “one last time” with the original Osmond Brothers — Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay — during a surprise 2018 reunion in Hawaii.
“The determination he manifested to stand up out of his wheelchair and be next to his brothers was simply unbelievable!!!” she continued, referring to his battle with multiple sclerosis.
In her touching tribute, she recalled Alan becoming the family leader at 12, admitting it must have been “daunting […] to have that immense responsibility, to lead at such a young age.” However, “he never complained,” as she remembered him telling him it was a “mission … a long one.”
Following his death on Monday, Marie said she felt her mother’s presence “come over” her, and she told her, “Honey, do you remember how excited you were for the birth of your child? Well, that’s how excited I am for the rebirth of my child (Alan) here.”
“What a joyous reunion and rebirth that took place on the other side. I know he’s happy. The last thing he said to me was, ‘I can’t wait to see brother Wayne, so we can be missionary companions together and start preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who never had the opportunity to hear his message of peace and hope in this life.’ ☺️ That’s my brother Alan!! I love you so very much and will miss you dearly.💔”
Marie’s tribute came days after Alan, the oldest of the Osmond siblings, died on April 20 at the age of 76.
Although his cause of death has not been revealed, the “One Bad Apple” singer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987.
Merrill Osmond took to Facebook to reveal Alan was “struggling” in the days leading up to his death.
“I was blessed to sit quietly with him,” Merrill, 72, wrote shortly after his brother’s passing. “We talked as brothers do, heart to heart. He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle… and then he smiled.”
He continued, “My brother has now stepped into the presence of our Father in Heaven with honor and peace. His life was not measured in years, but in love, sacrifice, and purpose.”
Merrill also remembered Alan as a “missionary” and a “saint,” while telling mourners not to “let your hearts be heavy.”
“Don’t weep for him,” Merrill concluded. “Rejoice, knowing that your brother, your friend, your hero is no longer in pain. He is free. He is whole. He is home.”
Considered one of the most famous and successful family music groups in history, the Osmond Brothers began as a barbershop quartet consisting of Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay in Ogden, Utah, in 1958.
Once younger siblings Donny and Jimmy joined the group around 1962, they changed their name to the Osmonds.
Besides “One Bad Apple,” the brothers led the charts with hits like “Crazy Horses,” “Down by the Lazy River” and “Let Me In” in the early 1970s.
“Crazy Horses” peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 shortly after its release in October 1972, and went on to reach No. 2 in the UK.
Although Marie rarely performed with her brothers, she launched a successful career in 1973 as both a solo artist and as a duet partner to her brother Donny.
The brother-and-sister pop duo took the 1970s by storm with hits like “I’m Leaving It All Up to You,” “Morning Side of the Mountain” and “Deep Purple.”
They also starred together in the hit variety show “Donny & Marie” on ABC from 1976 to 1979.
“There was something about the combination of Donny and Marie, and it wouldn’t have worked had we not been siblings, in my opinion,” Donny, 68, told “Entertainment Tonight” in 2023.
Wayne, the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond siblings born to George and Olive Osmond, died in January 2025 following a stroke. He was 73.
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