Singing Mom’s Praises: Donny and Marie Osmond Co-Host a Celebration of Mothers
By Rita Sherrow, Tulsa World, Okla.
May 6–She may still be a little bit country and he is probably still a little bit rock ‘n’ roll but Donnie and Marie Osmond, that successful brother and sister duo with 40-something years in show business, both agree on the importance of family.
He has five sons, ages 10-23, and two grandchildren. She has eight children, ages 5-25.
They hale from a talented Utah family of nine youngsters, all of whom are in show business.
On Sunday, the siblings will serve as hosts of “Teleflora Presents America’s Favorite Mom,” honoring mothers from all walks of life.
The videos of the nominees are being featured on “The Today Show” each morning this week. Viewers are asked to vote online at www.tulsaworld.com/nbc for the mom they most admire, and the winner will be crowned on an NBC special airing Sunday.
The winner will receive a grand prize that includes cash, a makeover, a family vacation, a trip to New York, flowers, jewelry and appliances.
“Mothers are the nucleus of life. I believe this is something that we really need to do, to honor these women
. . .,” said Marie Osmond who shared a recent teleconference with her brother. “I’ve worked Olympic shows and I’ve done inaugurations and television shows and everything. Being a mom is the most difficult and rewarding job out there.
“. . . Kids don’t come home to their video games. They come home to their moms.”
Thousands of mothers were nominated, and then a panel of experts narrowed the pool down to the top three semifinalists in each of the categories: singles, stay at- home, working, unconventional and military.
The five finalists, as voted by the public, will compete for the title on the TV show.
Sunday marks several milestones for the entertainers.
It’s the first time they have performed together since 1998 on the “Donny & Marie” talk show. It’s the fourth anniversary of the death of their mother, Olive Osmond.
(Their father passed away in November 2007.)
And it marks the beginning of the duo reteaming for a week-long run at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and a world tour to the United Kingdom, Australia and Asia (with seven members of their family performing together for the first time in 27 years).
Starting Sept. 9, the two will start an eight-month stint doing a variety show at the Flamingo Showroom in Las Vegas.
They’re busier now than they expected to be, said Donny.
“I thought I was going to retire at 50,” he said. Donny turned 50 last December.
“I’ve never worked harder in my life. I really thought I was going to slow down about this time in my life, and enjoy my grandkids. This next year is going to be really pretty much on the go and non-stop.”
For his sister, 47, the coming year is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“I didn’t know that I would be a single mom having to work this much,” said Marie, who made it to the ninth round of last season’s “Dancing With the Stars” and was co-host (with Donny) of this year’s “The Miss USA Pageant.”
“Life is never what you think it is going to be. So you grab onto the reins and you just enjoy the ride, no matter what.”
Their goal for the show is to make sure mothers know they are appreciated.
A text message from one son, “who has been through a lot,” put it all in perspective for her, she explained.
“He said, ‘I don’t know how you do everything and I just want you to know that I love you and I have big shoulders for you.’ And, you know what? That’s all moms need. They just need to know once in awhile that they are appreciated.”
Rita Sherrow 581-8360 rita.sherrow@tulsaworld.com
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: NBC, channel 2, cable channel 9
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