There’s a line in the Osmond family’s latest tributes that hits differently — and it doesn’t fully reveal its weight until you understand who they’ve lost.
Leaves behind 30 grandchildren
Alan Osmond, the eldest brother of the famous singing family and a key force behind their rise to global stardom, died on on April 20.
His passing at 76 marks another painful chapter for a family already grieving the loss of brother Wayne just a year earlier. According to reports, Alan left this world surrounded by his wife of 51 years, Suzanne, and his eight sons: Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex, and Tyler.
He also leaves behind 30 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A founding member of The Osmonds, Alan helped shape the group’s signature sound and success, co-writing hits like “One Bad Apple” and “Crazy Horses.”
Alan Osmond attends a ceremony where his brother and sister Donny and Marie Osmond receive a star on the Las Vegas strip following more than 1,700 performances at the Flamingo Las Vegas on October 04, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage)
After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis around 40 years ago, he eventually stepped away from performing, but never from his role as the family’s quiet anchor.
“Our mother always said, ‘Positive mental attitude,’ so I said, ‘I may have MS, but MS does not have me,’” Alan Osmond said in 2023.
Now, his siblings are sharing memories that reveal just how central he was behind the scenes.
Donny Osmond, arguably the most well-known of the brothers, reflected on their bond in an emotional Instagram tribute, describing Alan as the one who always carried more than his fair share of the responsibility.
”His tireless work helped build everything we became. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed — not just to me, but to every member of our family. I owe him more than I can ever fully express. I love you, Alan. Thank you for always being there for me,” Donny wrote and posted a photo of Alan as a child, hugging Donny as a toddler.
Merrill Osmond also shared that he was with Alan shortly before his passing.
“I was grateful to be with him shortly before he passed and to share a final meaningful moment together. Alan was a gifted creator, a man of faith, and a deeply loving soul whose life blessed many.”
But it was Marie Osmond’s tribute that added the most personal glimpse into their relationship.
“As his only sister, I know I had a different relationship with him than he had with his brothers, and I must say I loved that!😄 He was always very protective of me (not so sure I love that one)😂 but he was always there if I needed him!”
She also revealed the last thing he ever said to her:
“The last thing he said to me was, ‘I can’t wait to see brother Wayne, so we can be missionary companions together and start preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who never had the opportunity to hear his message of peace and hope in this life.’”
When Marie Osmond broke through alongside her brother Donny, Alan kept a close watch over his sister’s rising fame. But despite the pressures and temptations that came with stardom, he was never truly worried about her.
“I really know my little sister,” he said in 1978.
“And she’s really got a good head on her. This gives me a lot of comfort.”
Alan’s death comes just over a year after the family lost another brother, Wayne, who died on January 1, 2025, after suffering a stroke.
Donny described him as “the ultimate optimist,” writing that he brought “so much light, laughter, and love” into their lives.
Together, the tributes paint a picture of a family deeply bound, not just by fame, but by shared loss, faith, and decades of history shaped in part by the brother they are now remembering as the foundation of it all.
