Donny Osmondis looking back at his friendship withMichael Jackson.
I spent a lot of time with Michael Jackson.
“Theres nine children in each family.
Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond.Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty
Mike and I are both the seventh child of nine.
Our mothers' birthdays are on the same day.
Michael and I are the same age.”
Osmond and Jackson at the 1974 American Music Awards.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty
The similarities didn’t stop there.
Michael said something to me one day, he recalled.
He said, Donny, youre the only person on this planet that knows what my childhood was like.
My dad was an army sergeant and so that kind of infiltrated how he raised us.
I never wanted to disappoint my father."
Even at the height of their fame in the 1970s, the Osmonds weren’t allowed to slack off.
“When we hit big, my father said, Back in the rehearsal hall.
Learn a new number.
Keep this engine going,''” he said.
Larger Than Lifeis streaming now on Paramount+.
