A LITTLE BIT ROCK 'N' ROLL: Donny Osmond reveals secret to 45-year marriage to Debra Glenn
OGDEN, UTAH: Very few people have been in show business as long as Donny Osmond has, 60 years is no joke after all. This, despite being written off as a has-been by the time he was in his 20s. His marriage, just like career, has lasted long, 45 years to be precise. The singer has revealed what kept him and his wife, Debra (nee Genn), going despite the ups and downs.
The ‘Puppy Love’ singer shared a wry yet hilarious memory, per the Daily Mail. It was in a limo on his way to "work," a gig, when the driver asked him what his role was on the show, if he was a stage manager or performer. Osmond reportedly said, "I said, "Er, I'm Donny.'" He continued, "The driver stopped the car, turned right round and said, 'You mean you are one of those lookalikes? Because you're not the real Donny Osmond. That guy must be about 90 now.'"
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Donny Osmond's beginnings
Osmond, who is 65, did not know how to react. He decided to let it go as he said, "I get it. It's what happens when you start performing at the age of five. People think you've been around forever."
Osmond started performing at an age when most children would probably be at school or catching up on their favorite cartoons. His reputation grew as a part of ‘The Osmonds’ with four of his elder brothers. He has come a long way from the small boy standing on a crate and making it big with the hit ‘One Bad Apple' before going solo as a teenager. A grandfather-of-13 now, who is basking in the glory of his 65th album, he will bring one of his Vegas-style shows to Britain.
The British tour will cover every stage of his career, even the painful ones. With assistance from a young Donny impersonator, he will sing 'Puppy Love'. He says with a chuckle, "He's a British child who can reach the notes, because I can't any more."
What’s the secret of Donny Osmond's long marriage?
Osmond and Debbie have been friends since they were teenagers. In fact, Debbie, 64, had dated one of his elder brothers. They got married in 1978 and have five sons. Famous people steer clear of any discussion involving their families, Osmond is the opposite. Stating that he would never get in a situation where his children thought his career came before them, he said, "I have seen others make that mistake, and you can't come back from it. Even now, if one of my children phoned, I would take the call. I try to make my grandchildren's concerts. Family first, always."
Speaking about balancing his marriage and career, he said, "We work very hard. A successful marriage doesn't just happen. I don't want to paint the picture that we are just Pollyanna-ish, or very lucky. We've had challenges and arguments over the years," adding, "But at some point you have to ask is it really worth falling out over, or is my ego getting in the way, of having to be right?"
The years may not have been entirely benevolent to Osmond but he has learnt from his mistakes. Despite stumbling a number of times over the years, he picked himself up, dusted himself off and kept moving ahead. "It's about rebuilding the house of cards that fell down. You start putting the cards back up again – with glue this time," Osmond said.