Donny Osmond (born December 9, 1957) is an American singer, actor, television host, and stage performer whose career has extended across more than six decades. He first appeared professionally as a child with his older brothers on The Andy Williams Show, where the Osmond Brothers became regular performers during the 1960s. The family group's polished presentation and close harmonies made them popular on television, while Donny gradually emerged as its most prominent young vocalist.
Osmond began recording as a solo artist in 1971. His early singles, including "Sweet and Innocent," "Go Away Little Girl," "Puppy Love," and "The Twelfth of Never," established him as one of the leading teen idols of the early 1970s. "Go Away Little Girl" became his first US number-one single, while "Puppy Love" developed into his signature recording. His early albums, including The Donny Osmond Album, Portrait of Donny, and Too Young, presented him primarily as a clean-cut pop singer working with a mixture of contemporary songs and older standards.
In the mid-1970s, Osmond's career expanded through his partnership with his younger sister Marie. The siblings recorded together and hosted Donny & Marie, a successful television variety show that ran from 1976 to 1979. The program combined music, comedy, guest appearances, and family-friendly entertainment, making the pair one of the most recognizable acts on American television. Their professional association continued in later concert productions and became especially important to Osmond's long-term career.
Like many performers associated with the teen-pop market, Osmond faced a difficult transition into adulthood. His popularity declined after his initial run of hits, but he continued working in music and live entertainment. He returned to the pop charts in 1989 with "Soldier of Love," a deliberately anonymous release that generated curiosity before his identity was revealed. The song became his strongest US hit in many years and helped reposition him as a mature recording artist rather than solely a former teen idol.
Osmond subsequently broadened his work in theater, film, and television. He became closely identified with the title role in the stage musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, performing the part in major productions and appearing in the 1999 filmed version opposite Maria Friedman. He later played Gaston in the Broadway production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As a singer, he explored show tunes, standards, Christmas material, and contemporary pop on albums such as This Is the Moment, Somewhere in Time, What I Meant to Say, Love Songs of the '70s, and The Soundtrack of My Life. He also supplied the singing voice for the character Shang in Disney's Mulan, performing "I'll Make a Man Out of You."
His later career has emphasized live performance and television. Osmond and Marie maintained a long-running Las Vegas engagement at the Flamingo before he began a solo residency at Harrah's Las Vegas. In 2009, he and partner Kym Johnson won the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars, introducing him to a new generation of television viewers. His 2021 album Start Again continued his return to original pop and R&B material, with Osmond involved in the songwriting and production. In 2026, his Harrah's residency was extended through June 2027, confirming his continuing status as a major Las Vegas entertainer.