Wayne Osmond Passed Away On January 1st
Marie Osmond, the only daughter in the famous Osmond family, broke her silence following the death of her older brother, Wayne, on January 1st.
Wayne rose to fame singing alongside his brothers Alan, Merrill, and Jay in a barbershop quartet called The Osmond Brothers. The group caught the attention of Andy Williams’ father, who convinced Andy to book them on The Andy Williams Show.
The Osmond Brothers became regular performers on the program. Their younger brother, Donny, eventually joined the group. He made his debut on The Andy Williams Show when he was only five years old.
After Donny joined the group, it changed its name to The Osmonds. Another Osmond brother, Jimmy, later joined the group as well.
The Osmonds became teen idols and were beloved for their songs “One Bad Apple,” “Yo-Yo,” and “Down by the Lazy River.”
Their only sister, Marie, eventually pursued a solo career as a country singer. She also performed with Donny, and they had their own variety show, Donny & Marie. Wayne worked as a producer on the program, which ran from 1976 to 1979.
Wayne experienced a series of health issues in the later years of his life. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997, which he successfully treated. But, the treatment resulted in the loss of most of his hearing. Then, Wayne suffered a stroke in 2012. The stroke kept him from playing guitar.
Wayne suffered another stroke shortly before his death. He passed away on January 1st at the age of 73.
Marie Osmond Releases Statement Following Brother Wayne’s Death
Wayne’s brothers mourned his passing in emotional tributes on social media. Donny remembered his older brother as someone who “brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him.”
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But Wayne’s sister, Marie, remained quiet for a few days. She had been on a social media break for several months, which is why she waited to share a tribute to Wayne online.
In a statement she posted on Wednesday (January 8th), Marie said:
“I haven’t done any interviews or issued any statements until this post. The truth is, it’s just too hard to put into words, but I will try my best to honor one of the most loving men I have ever known.”
Marie shared that she drove to visit Wayne just a few days before he suffered his stroke. She said she “will cherish those hours [she] spent with him for the rest of [her] life.”
Calling Wayne her “safe place to go when [she] needed advice,” Marie said:
“So right now, if I could say anything to him, it would be: ‘Wayne, I could not cherish the gift God gave me more than to be loved by you in this life! You are a true, loving brother, and I will miss you so very much. I testify eternally of my great love for you with every fiber of my heart and soul!'”
Read Marie’s heartfelt tribute to Wayne below. Our prayers are with her and the entire Osmond family during this sad time…