Marie Osmond has paid tribute to her late brother Alan Osmond with a touching message on Instagram, but admitted it is “not an easy thing to do”.
“As his only sister, I know I had a different relationship with him than my brothers, and I have to say I loved it! 😄 He was always so protective of me (I don’t know if I loved it or not) 😂 But if I needed him, he was always there!” the 66-year-old singer captioned several throwback photos of Alan and his family over the years.
Marie went on to talk about his many “incredible” talents, “from singing to performing to playing multiple instruments,” and recalled his honors, including writing “hit records and albums,” producing television shows, and creating “major events and music videos,” including his song “No Stop Your Heart.”
She also recalled the sweet moment during a surprise reunion in Hawaii in 2018 when Alan took the stage and thanked her for allowing her to perform with the original Osmond Brothers (Alan, Wayne, Meryl and Jay) “one last time.”
“The determination he showed to get up out of his wheelchair and be next to his brother was just incredible!!!” She continued, referring to her battle with multiple sclerosis.
In a moving eulogy, she recalled how Alan became the leader of the family at the age of 12, admitting that “taking on that immense responsibility and becoming a leader at such a young age was daunting.” But “he never complained,” she remembers him saying it was a “mission…a long one.”
After Alan’s death on Monday, Marie said she felt her mother’s presence “surging” over her, saying: “Honey, do you remember how excited you were about the birth of your child? Yeah, how excited I was about him (Alan) being here.”
“What a joyful reunion and rebirth took place on the other side. I know he is happy. The last thing he said to me was, “I can’t wait to meet Brother Wayne so we can be missionaries together and begin preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not had the opportunity to hear his message of peace and hope in this world.” ☺️ That’s my brother Alan!! I love you so much and will miss you so much 💔”
Marie’s memorial service comes just days after the Osmond brothers’ eldest son Alan died on April 20 at the age of 76.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but the “One Bad Apple” singer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987.
Meryl Osmond revealed on Facebook that Alan had been “struggling” in the days leading up to his death.
“It was a pleasure to sit quietly with him,” Merrill, 72, wrote shortly after her brother’s death. “We spoke from the heart, like brothers. He was having a hard time, but when I shared a joke or two, he regained his strength to laugh…and he smiled.”
“My brother has now stepped into the presence of his Heavenly Father with honor and peace. His life was not measured by years, but by love, sacrifice, and purpose.”
Merrill also remembered Allan as a “missionary” and a “saint,” and asked mourners to “not be heavy-hearted.”
“Don’t cry for him,” Meryl concluded. “Please be glad to know 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 in Ogden, Utah in 1958 as a barbershop quartet consisting of Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay.
When younger brothers Donnie and Jimmy joined the group around 1962, they changed their name to the Osmonds.
In addition to “One Bad Apple,” the brothers led the charts in the early 1970s with hits such as “Crazy Horse,” “Down by the Lazy River,” and “Let Me In.”
“Crazy Horse” peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 shortly after its release in October 1972, and later reached number 2 in the UK.
Although Marie rarely performed with her brothers, she began a successful career in 1973 as a solo artist and as a duet partner to her brother Donnie.
This brother-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.”
The two co-starred on ABC’s popular variety show “Donny & Marie” from 1976 to 1979.
“There was something about the pairing of Donnie and Marie. In my opinion, if we weren’t brothers, it wouldn’t have worked,” Donnie, 68, told “Entertainment Tonight” in 2023.
Wayne was the fourth oldest of nine Osmond siblings born to George and Olive Osmond, and died in January 2025 from a stroke. He was 73 years old.
