Hi from Manila

Hi from Manila, where brothers and I are on the final leg of our world tour. It’s been an incredible time, full of emotion, especially knowing that this is most likely the last time we will tour together as a performing family. It was quite a feat of coordination to get all 7 of us lined up for this 50^th anniversary, but it’s been very, very worth it. Of course, after six weeks, I’m hotel’d out! I want my own pillow!!

In my last blog, I said I’d answer some of your questions, so here goes:

Marie, What is the best thing about touring with your family again?

I’ll answer this question with an example of something that happened two days ago right here in Manila. We had flown from Taiwan… and with crazy-endless jet lag and some pretty travel-weary kids in tow…we arrived in the Philippines for another show. We had been doing number of newspaper interviews and TV appearances and meeting so many fans, which was amazing considering it has been over 25 years since my brothers and I last performed here. 

When we arrived at the venue, we met up with a stage manager who looked rather dazed and confused. It seems that all of our instruments, costumes, stage equipment and even the special effects we use in the concert had been held up in customs. It had arrived really late, after some coaxing, but nothing was unloaded from the trucks.

The audience would be arriving within an hour or so and, at that point, we only had a bare stage…and ourselves! My brothers and I all looked at each other and almost without speaking flew into action. We carried scaffolding and giant screens, bags of anvils, instruments, and band platforms. We set up microphones, loaded in special effects, and rolled out the piano. The only way I can describe it is “choreographed chaos.” The show was only 20 minutes late in starting, but the audience didn’t seem to mind. They were on their feet after the opening song “Crazy Horses” and no one seemed the wiser, that only 60 minutes ago it was all just a bare light bulb and a couple of folding chairs! 

After the show my brother Merrill said, “Where else could you find a group that could pull that off?” I know he’s right. It’s my brother’s 50^th anniversary in show business and, of course, it’s more than 50 years that we have been a family. Show business always teaches you to “expect the unexpected,” because it’s live and you never know what might happen. However, my brothers in this situation…and always…remind me that with family, the “unexpected” can “expect” us to join together and handle any situation.

Will you and Donny ever record a new album together?

I’ve started training my voice in opera, again. It’s a great challenge and being an Osmond, I love a good challenge. Which is why I did “Dancing with the Stars.” (I’m still waiting for the skin to grow back on my feet after that challenge! I had more blisters than bubble wrap!) Before this world tour, I was spending some time in the studio, working on recording a couple of arias. I don’t know. Do you think Donny and I could duet on: “Tu! tu! Piccolo iddio!” from - Pucinni’s Madama Butterfly? Yeah. Right.

Come and see Donny and I live in Las Vegas, starting on September 9^th. We’ll be at the Flamingo for six months. We are working on some fun, new elements to the show to go along with the “classic” Donny and Marie.

Do you always wear false eyelashes?

I do whenever I’m on stage. I guess being child number 8, my mother had already dispensed all of the hair protein molecules that were available in her personal biology to each of my older brothers. They all were blessed with naturally gorgeous, thick, wavy hair and eyelashes that could create a breeze when they blink. Me? The only girl? My hair only holds a curl with shellac and my eyelashes are invisible if you are standing more than two feet away from me! 

Thanks, everyone! Have a great Fourth of July.  See you in Vegas!

-Marie Osmond