Secretly Spicy Facts About Marie Osmond, Country's Golden Girl
Marie Osmond has been singing, dancing, and charming her way into the hearts of audiences for decades. But behind the wholesome image is a saga of love, tragedy and continuous reinvention.
Far from being just another face in a crowd of popular names, her staying power in the entertainment industry is more layered than meets the eye.
1. She Has A Controversial Faith
Although Marie Osmond is a household name for many, few people know her controversial beginnings. She was born Olive Marie Osmond on October 13, 1959, in Ogden, Utah into a very large Mormon family—a religion that would put Marie under fire before long. And that wasn't the only odd thing about Marie's upbringing.
2. Her Family Was Perfect For One Thing
Marie’s family was quite the crew. Marie wasn't only the second-youngest in a huge brood of nine, she was also the only girl, and had eight brothers to contend with growing up.
Still, this big family did come in handy: Her mother Olive and particularly her father, George, got their many children into singing barbershop harmonies.
As it turned out, this was the beginning of Marie's fame, but not in the way you might think.
3. Her Brothers Stole Her Spotlight
When the Osmonds entered the music scene in the 1960s, it was initially as a barbershop quartet. But there was one thing missing. As one of the youngest and shyest in the family, Marie didn't initially participate in any of the music endeavors, and the boys had all the fun at first, performing as The Osmond Brothers. Still, temptation was about to hit.
4. She Tasted Fame Early
Despite her reluctance to get into the burgeoning family business, Marie did perform with her brothers on The Andy Williams Show at the tender age of four. While she stayed dormant for years after, the fame bug didn't leave her alone: By the early 1970s, Marie's mother had convinced her to start working on an album.
Still, no one could have known the pain that was already roiling around inside her.
