Marie Osmond

My hero is Marie Osmond. Marie was born in 1959 in Ogden, Utah, the 8th of nine children, to George and Olive Osmond. Her name is really Olive Marie, but since her Mother is Olive, everyone simply calls her Marie.

Marie's two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom, were both born with severe hearing impairments. Her next five brothers, Alan, Wayne, Merril, and Jay and Donny, were all musically gifted and were regulars on television by the time Marie was two. Marie made her televison debut at the age of three on the Andy Williams Show.

After her initial appearance, Marie stayed mostly out of the limelight, only appearing to sing with her brothers occasionally as they toured, becoming increasingly popular as The Osmond Brothers. When Marie was twelve, however, she decided it was her turn in the spotlight.

Marie recorded her first record, Paper Roses, when she was only 12, and it was released and went to #1 on the charts when she was only 13, making her the youngest female country singer ever to debut with a number one record. After her initial success, Marie became a more regular part of the family business, an act now renamed "The Osmonds."

After Paper Roses, Marie had a number of successful hits. When she was fourteen, however, she was teamed up with older brother, Donny, and the two recorded a duet called Leaving It All Up To You. The record was a hit, and one of the most famous singing duos ever was born.

Donny and Marie recorded several more hit records together, and while they were promoting the latest on The Mike Douglas Show, a producer saw them and thought that the brother/sister team would be a natural for their own televison show. Sixteen year-old Marie and eighteen year-old Donny became the youngest cohosts of a variety show ever in 1976.

The Donny and Marie Show lasted for 4 seasons, and when it ended both Donny and Marie were ready to go their own ways professionally. Marie returned to her first love musically, country music. She was now the most well-known of her family members, and she traveled constantly performing almost daily.

In 1982, twenty-two year-old Marie married Stephen Craig, and a year later gave birth to her first child, Stephen, Jr. Unfortunately, she and Stephen, Sr. divorced two years later, citing irreconcilable differences. Marie was devastated, but she threw herself into work, which now included touring with her brothers to raise the family from bankruptcy.

Although Marie was devastated by her divorce, she found love again with Brian Blosil, whom she married in 1986. Brian and Marie had seven more children, some biologically and some adopted, bringing the total to eight children.

Professionally, Marie continued to look for new challenges, including musical theater. She played Maria in The Sound of Music and Anna in The King and I on Broadway. In 1990, Marie developed her lifelong love of dolls into a facet of her career when she launched her own line of porcelain dolls, some of which she sculpts herself. In 1998, Marie and Donny were reunited as cohosts of a talk show that lasted for two seasons.

Currently, Marie has semi-retired from the entertainment business, choosing to stay at home and be with her children and her own mother, whose health has been declining. Marie does have a daily radio show in Utah, continues with her doll business, and is active with her charity, The Children's Miracle Network, which she co-founded with actor John Schneider in the early 80's.