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CNN Larry King Live
Encore Presentation - Donny & Marie Osmond/The Osmonds!
Aired November 25, 2007 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, it's all about music. The beloved father they lost just last week believed the show must go on, so they're here to celebrate their golden anniversary in show business -- 50 years.
Can you believe it?
(MUSIC VIDEO)
KING: But the Osmonds are doing more than looking back. Marie is taking the country by storm, competing on "Dancing with the Stars" and becoming America's quick stepping sweetheart.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DANCING WITH THE STARS," COURTESY ABC)
MARIE OSMOND (SINGING): The boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Yet behind Marie's brilliant smile, a painful family secret. She's going to share her heartache with us tonight.
Joining us for the hour, Donny
Marie and the brothers -- Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy -- America's first family of entertainment -- The Osmonds.
They're next on LARRY KING LIVE.
What a night. What an hour ahead with the Osmonds -- 50 years in show business. The whole family -- the other brothers will be there later.
But we're going to spend the opening portions with Donny and Marie. Marie, the only Osmond sister. All the rest are male. She's a fantastic entertainer, a doll maker and she's now in the final four...
DONNY OSMOND: Yes, baby!
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Yes!
KING: Don't (INAUDIBLE) -- on "Dancing With The Stars".
And her brother Donny, the lesser half of the duo...
D. OSMOND: Hey. Wait a minute.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Now you're in trouble.
KING: You're not on "Dancing with the Stars".
D. OSMOND: You're in trouble.
KING: All right.
M. OSMOND: That's not true anyway.
D. OSMOND: I got top billing, Larry.
KING: The Osmonds have had an incredible week.
Let's first talk about -- well, he lived to 90. He had an incredible life.
D. OSMOND: Yes, he did.
KING: The passing of your father, was it expected?
D. OSMOND: Well, he was ailing. And he had started in the beginning stages of dementia. He couldn't really communicate that much -- little bits here and there. But we didn't know it would happen as quickly as it did, so...
M. OSMOND: But he would have -- he would have bouts of absolute senility...
D. OSMOND: Yes.
M. OSMOND: I mean on top of it, you know. And so it was...
D. OSMOND: Well, the day before he passed, he was just having a great time traveling around with a lot of our seniors and having a wonderful day. And then they dressed him for breakfast, left him and 15 minutes later he was gone. My mom (INAUDIBLE) got him.
KING: Who told you?
D. OSMOND: My assistant Tina was there. And she called me about 15 minutes after it happened.
M. OSMOND: We had just finished "Dancing With The Stars," because he's reporting. And you called me that morning.
D. OSMOND: Yes. You were the second to know.
KING: You had your dad watched?
M. OSMOND: Yes. I called to make sure he was watching. And he was excited. And it's really interested how things happened, because we had dedicated that dance to him. We don't pick our music. And they said if you get close to the finals, you get to select a song. And I had chosen "Boogie" -- "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" for that song, because my mom and dad loved to dance. It was their thing. That was their first date. They went to a Tommy Dorsey dance.
Did you have fun?
KING: (INAUDIBLE)...
D. OSMOND: You remember Tommy Dorsey, don't you, Larry?
KING: I knew Tommy.
M. OSMOND: Yes.
KING: That's a long time.
D. OSMOND: Did you really?
KING: Yes, I interviewed him once. This extraordinary picture.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Oh, where did you get that?
KING: This painting -- one of our spies got us this painting. Someone drew this.
M. OSMOND: That's Jimmy.
D. OSMOND: That's Jimmy.
M. OSMOND: Our brother drew that at five.
KING: This was at your dad's bedside.
M. OSMOND: Those are all of us. He put us all into character. Of course my eyes -- I don't wear glasses anymore. I had, you know, Lasix, and...
D. OSMOND: And I look best in that.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Thank you, Jimmy.
KING: By the way, how much weight you've lost and how did you lose it?
M. OSMOND: You know, it's really -- it's crazy. Of course, dancing -- exercise is the key. But I've been doing NutriSystems. And I actually started doing it before the show because I just wanted -- anything with the word systems -- I have eight kids. It seems logical. But it's just -- it's been amazing because the reason I started was not necessarily weight loss to look good. It was for health reasons because that's what my mom died of. And I was -- I carried my weight through here and I was a prime candidate for that. So... D. OSMOND: But she looks fantastic.
M. OSMOND: I guess...
KING: Unbelievable.
M. OSMOND: And I'm not sure, Larry. I think it's close to 30 pounds.
D. OSMOND: It's just amazing.
KING: How much of it contributed by the dancing?
M. OSMOND: Well, like I said, you know, a lot. Exercise is crucial. But it's fun exercise. Every woman my age should get out, exercise, go dancing. Do something fun.
D. OSMOND: Here's Marie's secret, in my opinion, because, as she said, I've been reporting for "Entertainment Tonight" throughout this entire season. So I've been analyzing all of this.
M. OSMOND: He's analytical.
D. OSMOND: I really am. And I think Marie has a shot at doing this and taking the trophy...
KING: She does.
D. OSMOND: ...because she's out there having a good time. Her personality is coming out. She's not just dancing out there because, you know, there are some great dancers left in the competition.
M. OSMOND: There are. There are.
D. OSMOND: But Marie has got the personality.
KING: Yes. And that's part of dancing.
D. OSMOND: That's what show business is, Larry.
KING: See, when we did a show before you started, with you and three other women who were on the show, and we did a pre-vote of our audience from day forward win (ph) and you won.
Remember, that?
You won.
M. OSMOND: Before we started the season, yes.
KING: Yes.
D. OSMOND: She's going to take it.
(CROSSTALK)
D. OSMOND: She's going to take it.
KING: Personality is part of dancing. It's not just the steps.
D. OSMOND: No. But like I said, you know, it is show business. And you can't just get up on the stage. Anybody can get on stage, you know, with enough lights and sets and music and sound and whatever and just perform. But it takes a special person to get up there and really to entertain.
M. OSMOND: Well, I feel really good about myself...
D. OSMOND: ...because (INAUDIBLE).
M. OSMOND: No.
D. OSMOND: And she always interrupts me.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: I remember the last time?
Remember the last interview, Larry?
KING: No, no. Don't interrupt him.
D. OSMOND: I was just like...
(LAUGHTER)
KING: And I -- on this auspicious, the 50th anniversary, with all your brothers coming on, he hits you.
D. OSMOND: Tonight, let me hit you.
KING: All right. Now...
M. OSMOND: Yes, (INAUDIBLE) he would always give us love.
(CROSSTALK)
M. OSMOND: No.
D. OSMOND: You know, it is amazing when you say 50 years in show business. Obviously, you know, we haven't been in show business 50 years.
M. OSMOND: No.
D. OSMOND: But our four brothers, who paved the way, you know, celebrating 50 years in the business.
How many people can say that and still say we're entertaining?
We're out there entertaining people.
KING: Yes, it's phenomenal. D. OSMOND: It's a very rare thing. And we're very really happy to be part of that legacy.
KING: We're going to -- in the next set, we're going to show some of the dancing. But I want to bring up a serious note, but something that deserves to be said, to see how you're doing. I know that you have many children.
M. OSMOND: I do.
KING: And I know that Michael is in rehab, right?
M. OSMOND: Yes, uh-huh.
How did you know that?
KING: I was told.
M. OSMOND: Oh.
KING: And I think it's important that people know how you deal with it, because -- I have some statistics.
Michael is how old, 16?
M. OSMOND: My son is 16.
KING: When a child is 16, 53 percent have used illegal drugs.
M. OSMOND: Yes.
D. OSMOND: Wow!
KING: Seventy-eight percent have used alcohol. Fifty-seven percent smoke cigarettes.
How are you dealing with it?
M. OSMOND: This last week, with my dad passing, was hard for many reasons. That was one of them. My son was put into a rehab. It's really hard. It's really hard. But it's a reality, Larry. Seventy-five percent, like you said, of kids under age 18 are dealing with this. It's affecting every single family in our country. They're having these -- they're called pharm parties, where they go and steal, you know, medicines out of their parents' drug cabinets.
D. OSMOND: Medicine cabinets.
M. OSMOND: And they dump them in a bowl and they just take them until they pass out. My son didn't do that. But, you know, he's dealing with a lot of issues. I don't know that I feel comfortable talking for him. I think he'll have to deal with that. But I will say this. My son is amazing. He's dealing with a lot. He's one of my kids. He's dealing with adoption issues, all kinds of things right now.
KING: He was adopted? M. OSMOND: He's. Yes, I think he was. He is the most amazing kid and...
KING: How are you dealing with it?
D. OSMOND: Well, you can see. I mean...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: Yes, but she's also dancing...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: I mean I bring it up because...
M. OSMOND: It's been a hard week.
KING: ...no one's had a week like this.
D. OSMOND: Yes.
KING: Fiftieth anniversary...
M. OSMOND: Yes.
D. OSMOND: I don't...
KING: ...your father passes, you go into the quarter -- there's only four left on "Dancing With The Stars" and you're dealing with a son in rehab.
D. OSMOND: Well, you know, what I think is what's really helping her...
KING: How do you bounce all of those balls?
D. OSMOND: I'll help you here for a second...
M. OSMOND: Thank you.
D. OSMOND: ...because you're -- you're a little...
KING: I didn't mean to...
(CROSSTALK)
D. OSMOND: Larry is throwing darts at you.
M. OSMOND: You're fine, Larry. You're fine.
D. OSMOND: But, first of all, she's got her support team around her. A lot of people in this country and a lot of people in the world are dealing with these kinds of issues. And the Osmond family, just because we're a close family, it doesn't mean we're exempt from those issues, because society can throw a lot of trash at you.
M. OSMOND: It's a hard world kids are growing up in. You know, like you said, they're dealing with peer pressure, with...
KING: It's a lot harder to be a kid today.
M. OSMOND: Oh, please.
D. OSMOND: Oh, totally. Totally. But think about the fact that -- as sappy as a lot of people may think this is, we are a close family.
KING: You are.
D. OSMOND: She does have a support system...
M. OSMOND: I have the best family.
D. OSMOND: Last night -- or Monday night, when Marie was just about to go on stage -- and I hope I'm not disclosing something I shouldn't, but she had...
M. OSMOND: I think we're disclosing a lot here today.
D. OSMOND: She had a meltdown before the show.
KING: What?
D. OSMOND: She melted down. She says I don't know if I can handle all of this. And I put my arm around her and it was just a touching moment. In a way, as a producer, I wish the camera could have seen it. But in a personal way, I'm glad nobody was there to -- to capture that moment, because it was a brother consoling a sister in a time of need. The whole family is behind her...
M. OSMOND: My family.
D. OSMOND: We help each other, Larry.
M. OSMOND: My brothers are my rocks. And I'll tell you, one of the great mysteries of Godliness is God is there for us. And in those moments when you think I can't breathe, he just lifts it. And I don't know how God does it, but I know he does it.
KING: In the next segment, we're going to see the dance and -- the dance your father watched and everything and how great you were. And you really were super.
M. OSMOND: He is great.
KING: But, all right, going all -- through all you're going through, while you're dancing, can you put that away?
M. OSMOND: Do you know, it's really -- it's really funny that the -- like I said, I'm a scripture reader, I'm a bible reader. And it was -- it was so uncanny the night of the show.
D. OSMOND: Oh, this is a great story. I loved it.
M. OSMOND: I open my scriptures daily. And it said, there's a time to mourn and a time to dance. It was in Ecclesiastes.
KING: To dance?
D. OSMOND: Yes.
M. OSMOND: To dance. And I went, that is not a coincidence. And I really felt like my dad was saying this is your time to dance, so do it. And do it for me. And do it for you, because the endorphins really help right now.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: We're going to take a break.
We're going to see that dance with the amazing Donny and Marie. And then we're going to meet all the brothers on their 50th anniversary.
Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "DANCING WITH THE STARS," COURTESY ABC)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Out on the dance floor, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, and that is anything but what my dancing teacher taught. Please, Mr. Cho (ph), (INAUDIBLE) you are crushing my toes. Oh I'll just bet you're an expert at glowing. But right now, we're doing the tango.
Please Mr. Cho (ph), (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DONNY & MARIE SHOW," COURTESY ABC)
GEORGE OSMOND: All I have to say is family is friends. It gets you where you are. And that goes straight for all families.
Isn't it -- isn't that where it starts, the family?
Tighten up yours and be happy and do the wonderful things that you all were given talents for.
God bless you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Whoa.
Where did we come up with that?
D. OSMOND: Wow!
KING: A week ago, Monday, the day before...
M. OSMOND: You know, Larry, your show just stinks today, OK? D. OSMOND: Wow!
That was a great -- a great moment, Larry. Thanks for playing that.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Well put.
A week ago Monday, the day before George Osmond passed away, Marie and her partner quick-stepped to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" on "Dancing With The Stars".
As Marie said afterward, she had her beloved parents in mind.
Watch.
(VIDEO CLIP FROM "DANCING WITH THE STARS," COURTESY ABC)
M. OSMOND: My hairdo was mom's hairdo. They met in the military when my dad came back from the service. And when they got married, he had like $19 and she had $35 and they used to dance to make money to eat.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love that.
M. OSMOND: And so this is for them tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Whoa.
Was that fun to dance?
M. OSMOND: So fun, Larry. Do you know, I know why...
KING: (INAUDIBLE). Let me look.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: She walked out and I thought, that's my mom.
M. OSMOND: You know, the thing is, is I know why dancing was so popular in the '40s, that whole era.
KING: Oh.
M. OSMOND: You -- you're in that studio. You hear that big band. You know, there is something really healthy about dancing.
D. OSMOND: Well, they didn't have LARRY KING to watch.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: I mean that's (INAUDIBLE)... KING: Have you -- now you've made the quarterfinals. Now, entertainment producer, "Entertainment Tonight" director/ analyst, how is she going to do?
D. OSMOND: She's going to do great. I'll tell you why. You know...
KING: (INAUDIBLE).
D. OSMOND: ...not to drag this out, but I think she's got more votes than Jenny. I think Jenny is the next one to leave. But it gets down to the semifinals with Helio, Mel B. And Marie. And if you weigh it all, put it on the scale, Marie's got the popular vote.
M. OSMOND: Wouldn't it be cool to see somebody more mature win something like this, to say dancing's is not just for the young?
And I do -- I do think a woman should win it this year.
D. OSMOND: Well, it's...
M. OSMOND: It's been three seasons.
D. OSMOND: It's been three seasons since a woman has won this.
KING: Are you the oldest competitor left?
M. OSMOND: Maybe.
D. OSMOND: Oh, you are.
M. OSMOND: I am.
D. OSMOND: You are.
I'm going to use that one on (INAUDIBLE).
M. OSMOND: That just means I have more years of wisdom. No (LAUGHTER).
KING: All right, we've got another call. A few weeks back, Marie, you stunned the "Dancing With The Stars" audience by fainting on stage. It's a moment that will live in reality TV for history forever.
M. OSMOND: This is just a great show.
KING: This will be in the top 10 moments.
Watch this.
D. OSMOND: You dragged Marie through the dirt on this show here.
KING: Watch this one.
M. OSMOND: What the heck. Go for it.
(VIDEO CLIP FROM "DANCING WITH THE STARS," COURTESY ABC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the amateur dancer, for me, this dance, the samba, is the hardest one to master.
M. OSMOND: I agree.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's lots of different rhythms going on. You have to do steps on the spot. You have to move around the floor. You've got to get this elusive bounce action going. And, of course, you've got to show the gaiety and the fun of the samba.
Whoa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, we're going to take a commercial break.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's take a commercial break, a commercial break.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll be right back and -- we'll be right back after this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
M. OSMOND: ...decided to get up and help me there.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Yes. You know, what's really interesting?
KING: What happened?
D. OSMOND: The audience laughed when she fell.
Did you hear that?
M. OSMOND: Did you hear that?
KING: No, I didn't.
D. OSMOND: They thought it was part of an act or something.
M. OSMOND: Because I'm a got out of, you know?
KING: Have you fainted before?
Are you a fainter?
D. OSMOND: Oh, yes.
(CROSSTALK)
D. OSMOND: I've worked with her when she's fainted.
M. OSMOND: A few times.
D. OSMOND: You bet you.
M. OSMOND: My -- what I found out is that I have -- not asthma, but I have allergies really bad. And so I do like a breathing thing just singing once in a while when it gets really bad. And the fires were like horrible that day. Our trailers are outside -- makeup, hair, everything was outside. I was the first dance. And I just -- my lungs just couldn't get air. And so now I know that whether I sing or dance, I do my allergy stuff.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: How long were you out?
M. OSMOND: I don't know. I do not.
D. OSMOND: I don't know. I was over the U.K.
M. OSMOND: I don't know.
D. OSMOND: I got the news that...
KING: Oh, you were in England, huh?
D. OSMOND: Yes, I was doing a tour over there and I looked at my Blackberry and Marie fainted on -- on live television.
KING: Did they have -- do they have a doctor there?
M. OSMOND: It couldn't have been that long, because it was during a commercial break, right?
D. OSMOND: But I love what she said as soon as she came to. Tell everybody what you -- you said when you saw Tom Bergeron.
M. OSMOND: Oh, well, I saw my children and then I saw Jonathan. And then I saw Tom and I went -- and then I realized and I went oh, crap.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: That's my sister.
KING: Was there a doctor there?
M. OSMOND: Oh, sure, yes.
KING: There was?
M. OSMOND: Yes. Everybody was very careful. I'm very careful. I'm very healthy. I'm healthier than I have ever been in my life in many ways. And I'm...
KING: You mean more than physical?
M. OSMOND: Oh, yes, absolutely. Women -- when you get in your 40s, you start figuring it out. And life is really great. My life is good, Larry. With everything going on, I'm a -- I'm a happy woman.
KING: Are you surprised at how well you have done in the dancing show?
D. OSMOND: I am.
M. OSMOND: (LAUGHTER).
Thank you.
D. OSMOND: No, seriously. I thought Marie was never going to make it.
KING: Oh (INAUDIBLE).
You weren't a dancer, were you?
M. OSMOND: No. I have never -- you know, I mean we did pointing in the '70s and stuff like that.
D. OSMOND: Well, yes, but that -- that was "The Donny & Marie Show." But, boy, man you've surprised me.
M. OSMOND: You know...
D. OSMOND: You've not only surprised me, you've surprised America.
M. OSMOND: Well...
KING: Yes.
D. OSMOND: I'm sorry, you surprised the world with what she has done.
M. OSMOND: One thing our dad gave us is a desire to never quit. And he would always say, the only failure is those who fail to try.
KING: Yes.
M. OSMOND: And I love a good challenge. It looked like a really fun challenge.
D. OSMOND: The other saying -- anything worth doing is worth doing well.
M. OSMOND: That's right, hoe to the end of the roe.
D. OSMOND: Yes.
M. OSMOND: We had a lot of those quotes in our lifetime.
(LAUGHTER)
M. OSMOND: But, you know, now that I'm in the semifinals, the word semi doesn't do anything for me. D. OSMOND: But you're not there yet. I mean come on...
M. OSMOND: I want final.
D. OSMOND: OK . You've got one more week. Vote for Marie. Vote for Marie.
M. OSMOND: Please. Let's hear it for the older women. Come on.
KING: We have an e-mail question from Amy in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts: "My deepest sympathy on the loss of your father. I'd like to know, did any of you feel pressured to perform as a child or a teenager? Did you ever want to do something else?"
D. OSMOND: Oh, yes. Absolutely. I mean there were times when I was out on the road I wanted to go home and play in my sand box with my trucks and things like that. But...
M. OSMOND: That was just yesterday.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Man, that was yesterday, right.
(LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: But, you know, it was a -- it was a team. It was a team effort. It was a family effort and my parents did the best they possibly could at the time. Larry, I mean put yourself in their situation.
Here's a singing family. The train is going down the track a million miles an hour.
What are you going to do, stop it?
You know, the success was happening. But...
KING: But didn't any -- well, we'll ask the others. They'll be on in the next segment.
Any of you want to jump off the train?
Did any of you want to say, you know, I think I'd like to be an electrical engineer?
D. OSMOND: Yes.
M. OSMOND: Do you know how many times we would say I just can't?
I can't. This is too hard.
D. OSMOND: I can't go on.
M. OSMOND: And they wouldn't let us. And sometimes we'd say, well, that's really mean. Do you know what that taught us is self- worth, self-esteem. You can get through anything if you believe hard enough. That's what faith is. Faith is nothing but a positive attitude, believing that you can.
D. OSMOND: Because life is very tough. You know, it can really throw a lot of curveballs at you. So you have to have within yourself that work ethic, that ability to rise to the occasion. That's what our parents instilled in each one of us.
M. OSMOND: You cannot buy self-esteem. You have to earn it. And that's what they taught us.
KING: So their legacy lives with you?
D. OSMOND: And it will for a long, long time.
M. OSMOND: They were amazing.
D. OSMOND: Yes. They -- as a matter of fact, a lot of the fans have come to me and said they even call our parents mother and father. Someone said to me just the other day -- it's quite funny. She said, you know, I've been with you guys for so long, from puberty to menopause.
(LAUGHTER)
M. OSMOND: And that's a statement coming from Donny.
(LAUGHTER)
M. OSMOND: Oh, you mean she said?
D. OSMOND: No, she said that to me.
M. OSMOND: I thought (LAUGHTER).
D. OSMOND: Turn your hearing aid up, will you?
KING: They're getting old even as we speak.
We'll be right back and we'll meet the rest of the Osmonds.
When we return, more Osmonds join us. The brothers are here next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE ANDY WILLIAMS SHOW," COURTESY NBC)
ANDY WILLIAMS: The Osmond brothers.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE OSMONDS," COURTESY ABC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do have a large family -- eight boys and one girl. And we'd like to have you meet that one girl right now. Ladies and gentlemen, Marie Osmond.
Marie, come on out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: And now let's meet them all.
In Branson, Missouri, Jimmy Osmond, the baby of the Osmond bunch. His emphasis has been business, by the way. He developed most of the Osmonds' merchandising and has teased (ph) and produced the TV special celebrating their 50 years in entertainment.
Jay Osmond, a world class drummer, who started his show business career at age two. In addition to entertainment, he's also into real estate, where he makes his most money.
JAY OSMOND: Yes, there you go.
KING: Here in Los Angeles, Alan Osmond, eldest of the performing Osmond brothers. And he wants the world to know that while he has multiple sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, multiple sclerosis does not have him.
And in Branson, Missouri is Wayne Osmond. He's been performing since age six -- part of that original Osmond quartet that first appeared on "The Andy Williams Show," known as the comedian of the group. In fact, his nickname is Crazy Wayne.
And also here in L.A. is Merrill Osmond, the lead singer on many of the hits. They've earned, by the way, 27 gold records over the years. He now stars in "The Spirit of Christmas" in Reno, Nevada.
And, by the way, speaking of Christmas, Marie Osmond's "Magic of Christmas," her new holiday CD, is already 21st on the holiday list, and it's just out. Congratulations on that.
M. OSMOND: Thank you.
KING: We learn everything here.
M. OSMOND: Thank you.
It's just...
KING: All right.
We'll start with the -- Alan, you're Mr. Elder.
ALAN OSMOND: Right here.
KING: What does it feel like all of these years?
ALAN OSMOND: Well, I tell you, I definitely am 50 years old. I was the oldest of the group. I remember when we were singing behind my father and traveling in a car and learning what is called the alto. And we learned to sing harmony. And then father says, "Alan, get your brothers." and we would. And we'd get together and we'd harmonize.
I would work one of the pianos with my mother and we'd learn the parts. Then we got on the Disneyland circuit and we worked there. Andy Williams' father saw us and then here we are, 50 years.
KING: Jimmy, were you kind of -- did you have to be in the business?
JIMMY OSMOND: Yes, you know, I thought everybody did what we did growing up. You know, I started when I was three on Andy Williams' show. As a matter of fact, the very first ever live show I ever did with my family, it was in Las Vegas. And it was with Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra. And it was -- it was wild. Again, I thought everybody did that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elvis was (INAUDIBLE).
JIMMY OSMOND: Well, he was.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Jay, did you ever think of doing -- or you did real estate. Did you ever think growing up of wanting to do something else?
JAY OSMOND: Oh, yes. You know, there were a lot of times I think all of us had that feeling. You know, I wonder what, you know, other things there are to do?
I wanted to play football.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He did play football. Yes.
JAY OSMOND: But, you know, we all got to do the things that we, you know, wanted to do. But I think just to add to what little sis was saying about our parents, they taught us that faith was not just a feeling or an attitude, it's a decision. And so we made a decision to stay together and to do this thing called show business. And we felt a lot of love and a lot of respect and a lot of happiness doing it.
KING: Wayne, what do you make of your...
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And hoping to get it right.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Wayne, what do you make of your sister?
WAYNE OSMOND: Pardon me?
KING: What do you make of your sister...
WAYNE OSMOND: What do I make... KING: Yes. With her dancing?
WAYNE OSMOND: Oh, what -- oh, I think she's awesome. I mean she's got to win. She's the very best. I mean, really. Seriously.
(LAUGHTER)
WAYNE OSMOND: I'm not joking.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much did you pay him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For once, he's not joking.
(LAUGHTER)
M. OSMOND: Cute. I love you.
KING: Merrill, what do you make of all of this, that the Osmonds stay hot?
MERRILL OSMOND: Well, I just think it's amazing. If you would have told me just even a couple of years ago that the groundswell, especially in the U.K., is increasing the way it is, I'd say you're crazy. But it is amazing. It's -- it's -- it -- of course, Donny has had a massive amount of success over there. But the whole Osmond machine continues to move across the globe. And we're very humbled about it.
KING: Why the U.K., Donny, do you think?
D. OSMOND: You know what?
The U.K. has always been a great market for us. And I've never really been able to figure out why.
KING: You were big in the U.K. during The Beatles run, right?
M. OSMOND: (INAUDIBLE) here now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, they called us the Osmond mania phenomenon that took place over there. And, as Merrill said, the resurgence is just phenomenal. We put a concert on sale at the Wembley Arena and it sold out in a day. I mean this is like 45 years on into the business and...
M. OSMOND: But this is like recent concerts. This was like, what, a couple of weeks ago?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a couple of weeks ago and...
KING: Wow!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's phenomenal, Larry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the girls still scream. It's incredible.
M. OSMOND: Hey, watch what you're saying or they be there to support you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, they're there. Trust me.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: We'll be right back with the Osmonds and their 50th anniversary. We'll talk to the other -- to the brothers about hearing about their dad and what their dad meant to all of them.
Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE OSMONDS," COURTESY ABC)
M. OSMOND: Being the only girl and having six brothers and traveling, it's a lot of fun. I've got it (INAUDIBLE).
M. OSMOND: (INAUDIBLE) live with television and knowing that the people out there. They're watching (INAUDIBLE) came together for us that night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: All of the Osmonds are assembled, celebrating 50 years in the business. An e-mail question from Maria in San Antonio, Texas: "I have seven brothers and sisters and four or five of them aren't on speaking terms. With your different personalities, how do you stay close?"
All right. Let's start with all of them. We will start with Alan.
A. OSMOND: Well, we had a slogan, my father. In some of those times, confusion or whatever he would say, one: you act like one and be one. And I happened to be the leader at the time, and boy, when I said that, it is all I had to do and everyone would just be quiet. It was wonderful.
KING: Merrill?
MERRILL OSMOND: I think the whole thing that the process of working together through a family issue is one of the greatest opportunities any family can have because if you can crush the ego, and the ego is the biggest problem with -- inside families, you are going to be able to get along just fine.
I think we have been able to do that.
D. OSMOND: I think so too. If I could just add something to that. Even though the two of us were out in front during the "Donny & Marie Show," Merrill talks about crushing an ego, all of my brothers were backstage producing it. Everyone was involved, but we got the notoriety.
But you have to keep those egos in check.
KING: Did it shock you that that doesn't look like (ph) their (ph) egos.
M. OSMOND: Well, it is like my brother Jay, who was the drummer, he is the one that watched the cameras on "The Andy Williams Show" that got my brothers to be recognized. I mean, so you know, there is some amazing ...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: Jimmy, have you always been close, Jimmy?
JIMMY OSMOND: Yeah. I really have. I've had a most amazing relationship with each one of my siblings. But it's kind of funny, I kind of liken it to an aquarium. There is all these fish in there. There is a beautiful angel fish like Marie, there's a clown fish like Wayne, there's a guppy.
But I'm more like the bottom feeder guy that just keeps the bowl clean, you know what I mean?
A. OSMOND: Well, Jimmy is the one that has pulled us all together on this 50th. I mean, you mentioned something to Donny and Marie about how did you stay together? And you had all of these trials? Well, I've had MS for 20 years, Larry. And Donny and Marie came to me and says, we are not going on without you.
I mean, serious. And I'm in Branson and finally had to quit. But now I'm coming back and you and I are going to talk some more about it sometime.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: Oh yes, you know, we are going to do a show on multiple sclerosis. We are.
A. OSMOND: Thank you.
KING: Jay, how do you account for the staying together?
JAY OSMOND: I don't - I just think that we - I have to attribute it to family prayer, family activities, our belief system, great parents and the opportunities that we had many times to get in fights but we had to work through those things and it became opportunities to grow.
And we just - we had a lot of good moments, a lot of hard moments, but that's what life's all about.
M. OSMOND: And if I could say one thing. You know, it says "If thy brother offend thee, go to him." I think in families too many times you go ...
D. OSMOND: Is that why you have been coming to me a lot?
M. OSMOND: A lot.
D. OSMOND: Oh, OK.
M. OSMOND: No. I think a lot of families, they go around the problem. And society does that a lot. We go around things instead of going through them with logic and love. And I think that is the thing, is if -- and we have all been through stuff. Don't kid yourself.
It is like, you know, you work that close together, you have issues. But we will sit down and say, that hurt my feelings. And you work through it.
D. OSMOND: Yes. Be open and honest. And the thing is, if you let those feelings fester and become a cancer, so to speak, you throw away so much great history within a family by letting little things creep in and become a cancer.
M. OSMOND: I saw a family destroyed when their parents died and they were fighting over a mirror in the living room. Over stuff, a family was destroyed.
D. OSMOND: Let it go!
M. OSMOND: You have got to let it go.
A. OSMOND: You know, at the end of the show -- on the TV show, may tomorrow be a perfect day? It is a like a little prayer for the people. Before we go on stage, every show, we get together as brother and sister and we have a moment of prayer to say we hope we can touch someone's life out there.
So that helped us stay together.
(CROSSTALK)
M. OSMOND: We pray that Alan won't cry all the time ...
A. OSMOND: I'm 50 years old, I deserve it.
M. OSMOND: You are more than 50, and I love you.
KING: We will take a break and when I come back, I want to talk about your father. We will be right back.
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
KING: We are back.
Gosh, it looks like my bar mitzvah. (LAUGHTER)
D. OSMOND: Larry, Larry, before you say anything, I challenge you to find any four brothers that can harmonize like that at that age.
KING: Unbelievable.
M. OSMOND: It was amazing.
KING: All right. Jimmy, what was special about your dad?
JIMMY OSMOND: Well, he was just a great man. I was real close to him. Obviously, as we all were. But he had so much integrity. And you know, it's amazing. This might seem kind of strange but I never heard him say an off color joke my whole life. He never swore and he was a man that - he was very humble. We'd be picked up in these fancy limos or whatever and he would always sit in the front and ask about the driver's life or he would ride in the luggage because it was never about an ego thing with him. It was always about his children and what an amazing legacy he left.
KING: Wayne, what was special about him to you?
W. OSMOND: Oh. Our dad was a tough guy. Strong. He was a wild man cowboy and he kind of talked like John Wayne.
JIMMY OSMOND: No he didn't.
W. OSMOND: And he used to say to us, now get out on the road and make some money or I'll shoot you dead.
JAY OSMOND: He didn't say that.
W. OSMOND: He said it to me.
KING: Now I know where the "Crazy" comes from. Jay, what was he like for you?
JAY OSMOND: He taught us, our father taught us what love and kindness, what honor and dignity really means and he loved our mother and taught us how to respect women.
And I think that's probably one of the greatest things I've learned from him. He loved ...
M. OSMOND: And I will tell you as a woman, that is true. I said the other day, on "Oprah" I said I wished that my parents could raise every man in the world, because I have amazing brothers.
D. OSMOND: What a great example for children to see, a relationship like, how a father treats the mother.
KING: I know.
D. OSMOND: It was just wonderful to be raised by those kinds of parents.
KING: What was he like for you, Alan?
A. OSMOND: Well, father and I were very close. I was the oldest. Alan, get your brothers. Alan do this -- I had two older brothers that were hearing impaired, and it pulled us together, and he supported me like crazy.
I went in the Army and I remembered his being tough in the Army. He says, Alan, you can do it. And that saved my life, I believe.
KING: Merrill?
MERRILL OSMOND: Well, first of all, what impressed me about my father as I look back is the fact that, you know, I go back to that ego again, my father demonstrated, he didn't have to do what he did. I mean, he had a very successful practice in very many different ventures. But he literally gave all of that up for our dream as a family.
So if you look at the male ego in that, he crushed that. And he demonstrated that to us by giving everything he had to the cause. And whatever that cause was, you know, our mother was the visionary, and our dad was the one that made sure it happened.
And that team -- that is why that team was so vitally important for the Osmonds, because we saw the balance. You have got to do it if you are going to say you are going to do it, then do it. Dad did that.
A. OSMOND: That is why we kept together. Father also said when we had our TV show, Fred Silverman (ph) said, you are renewed for another year, "Donny & Marie," and they said, well, good, we will do it in Utah.
Utah? What is in Utah? My father, it is going to keep my family together. It is why we did it.
D. OSMOND: It was all about keeping us together, a family business. I found out something from somebody at the funeral, and I never knew this, because he was a very close friend of father's.
And he said, before you guys really got serious in show business, your dad came to me with this idea, I want to create a store, like a hardware store. And each one of his sons and his daughter would have a job in the store.
So whether it was show business or something else, his vision was keep the family together.
M. OSMOND: You know, he lost his dad when he was just a few weeks old. And my mother came from a family of two kids. Her brother is 10 years younger. And all they wanted was a family.
KING: Boy. And they had it.
M. OSMOND: Yes, they did.
D. OSMOND: Yes, they did.
KING: We will be back with more of the Osmonds, what a night. Don't go away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, "Donny & Marie."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
D. OSMOND: What in the world could top that this year? Nothing.
M. OSMOND: Oh, I don't know. How about this?
Might as well have the whole pitcher.
(MUSIC)
M. OSMOND: Oh, I love doing these kinds of things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: They got paid for that.
M. OSMOND: That was awesome.
All right. Gentlemen, on the serious note, we will start with Jimmy. Mitt Romney is running for president, running strong in some polls in some states. And the fact that he is a Mormon has brought a lot of attention to him and a lot of questions about the faith.
How do you feel about that race?
JIMMY OSMOND: First of all I think he's a great man and I think it's important to judge the person on the person but I think there are a lot of misconceptions as to what people think our beliefs are and as people become more aware of our beliefs, it doesn't become an issue at all because we all believe in God ...
M. OSMOND: And we're Christian.
JIMMY OSMOND: It's just something people need to be more educated about. We're Christians. Yeah.
KING: Jay, some think that Mitt ought to make a speech like John Kennedy did in 1960 about being a Catholic and how that might affect his being president. Do you think Mitt Romney should make the same kind of speech about being a Mormon?
D. OSMOND: Hasn't he already? JAY OSMOND: Well, first of all, Mormonism is a nickname, it's because our belief in the Book of Mormon ...
KING: He has never made a speech about it.
JAY OSMOND: ... but like Marie said, we are Christians and as long as I believe someone is there who believes in God and what this country was founded on and the principles and the heritage that we have and what keeps us all together, that's the main thing. That's - religion aside, I think it's the person and it's the integrity and the honor that that person has and a belief in God, you bet.
D. OSMOND: Actually, let me correct you there a little bit, Larry. No, he hasn't made a television speech about being a Mormon, but there was a great article in "Newsweek" a few weeks ago that he basically came out and said, you know what? Let's put all the rumors to rest. This is what I believe.
You know, I'm a Christian, I believe in God. And I think it has been absolutely wonderful for the Mormon Church to have Mitt out there because people have a little bit of curiosity and they are learning.
KING: Kennedy spoke to ...
M. OSMOND: Yes. He spoke to because he ...
KING: He spoke to religious leaders of other faiths.
M. OSMOND: It was the first time that a candidate was questioned because of his faith.
KING: Correct.
M. OSMOND: It was because he was Catholic. And so I think, you know, to answer your question, I hope that times have -- I hope we have grown up since then. I hope people look at the person and what they have done.
D. OSMOND: Yes. But the presidential race, I mean, it is a popularity vote, it can get -- be like a little bit of a circus.
A. OSMOND: As Mormons ourselves, we believe in Jesus Christ. It is the name of our church. And ...
KING: Why do those southern evangelicals question that?
A. OSMOND: I don't know, but I would sure like to walk them into my home and have an hour to share with them.
D. OSMOND: Back in the Nicene Creed, when churches and the religion were established, I think it was like in 900 A.D. or something like that, they determined what the Bible says.
I mean, the whole basic principle of Mormonism is that we believe the truth was restored, not reformed.
M. OSMOND: We believe in the Bible. We...
A. OSMOND: The Old Testament, New Testament, and another testament that...
MERRILL OSMOND: Just to go along with -- and again, I'm not a politician by any means, but there is nothing to hide. I mean, so if Mitt does make a comment or two when asked a question, obviously he is going to -- they are going to get the straight facts.
There is nothing to hide about our church and our religious beliefs.
KING: Jay, do you like ...
M. OSMOND: Can I tell you something? Look at my brothers. They are great men. I think our church produces pretty good men.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
M. OSMOND: And I want to be the first woman president!
(CROSSTALK)
D. OSMOND: Oh boy, heaven help us!
(LAUGHTER)
KING: OK. I guess you are all going to vote for him.
D. OSMOND: Yes. Absolutely.
A. OSMOND: Yes.
MERRILL OSMOND: Yes.
KING: Are you, Jay?
JAY OSMOND: Yes. Right here, buddy.
KING: Are you going to vote for him?
M. OSMOND: I'm still researching.
JAY OSMOND: I sure am.
KING: Well, he has got seven votes here.
A. OSMOND: What man running for president is so strong on family? Family is everything to the Osmonds. And he is right on target.
KING: And we will be back with our remaining moments right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny and Jimmy. The Osmonds.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We have got a couple of quick questions left. You two possibly going to be an act together in Vegas? I just -- the thought of you is so great together, why not come back?
D. OSMOND: We are talking. We are talking.
KING: Are you?
M. OSMOND: Did you hear any rumors about that?
D. OSMOND: No. We are talking. We are just talking.
KING: I mean, it would seem so obvious.
M. OSMOND: Well, you know, we have a little bit chemistry together, I don't know.
A. OSMOND: Merrill and I are going to team up.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Merrill, what Osmonds are still performing?
MERRILL OSMOND: Well, we still work together as brothers. And we have our individual things like I'm doing the whole thing at the El Dorado Hotel in Reno. The brothers are at Branson Variety Theater in Branson.
Alan, are you doing something?
A. OSMOND: I'm have a retirement program, eight sons. I thought that was what MS was, "many sons."
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Do you perform?
A. OSMOND: I am now, thank you.
KING: Everyone on our show tonight performing?
MERRILL OSMOND: Yes.
D. OSMOND: You can see them this coming March on a PBS special that we did in Las Vegas. It is the 50th anniversary for my brothers. And Alan is out there, all of the performing brothers. (CROSSTALK)
D. OSMOND: Even our two oldest brothers who don't sing, who are hard of hearing, they are on the show. It is a wonderful celebration.
KING: So the two that are not here tonight, those are the two that do not perform.
D. OSMOND: That is correct. But they are at the show, there it is.
MERRILL OSMOND: Yes, Virl and Tom are the two...
M. OSMOND: You know, the thing is, you say 50 years of entertainment. That is consistent. That is not taking 10 years off here or there. I mean, they just had a hit record over in England last year.
And so you know, I mean, it is kind of crazy, but it is really cool for me to sit here because we have got 50 here and 50 here.
D. OSMOND: Oh, that is right, you are celebrating 50 years.
M. OSMOND: Your 50th.
KING: Yes, 50 years.
M. OSMOND: So, see, we are batting 100.
D. OSMOND: Yes. We are doing 100 years here folks.
(CROSSTALK)
KING: Wow. From your lips to God, we will do it another 10.
(LAUGHTER)
KING: Thank you all very much. Marie, Donny, Jimmy, Jay, Alan, Wayne and Merrill, The Osmonds.
Hey, don't forget to check out our Web site, cnn.com/larryking. We have got a special "Donny & Marie" quick vote and an Osmond Web extra. You can also e-mail upcoming guests and download our podcasts or sign up for our newsletter, all at cnn.com/larryking.
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