It was a sad Wednesday for the Osmond family as they mourned the death of their beloved brother, Wayne Osmond, who died from stroke complications on the 1st of January 2025. Merrill Osmond noted in his Facebook post that the late singer, who died at 73, was surrounded by loved ones. Also, in a press statement released by his family, they noted that Wayne’s “legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world.”
Wayne Osmond’s death came as a shock to his siblings, and they wrote in their release that they “will miss him dearly.” The late singer is the second oldest of Osmond’s brothers and 4th of the nine Osmond children. Wayne started a band that would later become popular as the Osmonds with his three siblings, Alan, Merrill, and Jay, and they went on to become a big household name and etch their name in history.
Wayne Osmond’s life and career
The late star, who is known for his baritone voice, formed a barbershop quartet with his brothers, and they found fame in the early 60s after they performed at Disneyland and landed a 7-year gig on NBC’s The Andy Williams Show. The quartet only lasted for about a decade when Donny joined the group, and they became a quintet before changing their name to The Osmonds. This move helped them to accommodate their other siblings, Marie Osmond and Jimmy Osmond. Interestingly, Donny and Marie later became a duo, but Wayne remained committed to the band until 2007.
Wayne had been experiencing health troubles since childhood, as he revealed in a discussion with Coping With Cancer magazine in 2004 that he was celebrating a decade anniversary of being cancer-free as he suffered a recurrence of his childhood brain tumor. Wayne noted that he faced his fears, and about six months into his rehabilitation he took the bold step of returning to the stage to perform despite experiencing some form of hearing loss.
The late Osmond star was entirely family-centric
Aside from his singing career, Wayne Osmond was a family man, and he sang the praises of his wife during the 2004 interview, noting that his cancer recurrence brought them closer. “She’s an absolute angel. I’m a very, very blessed man,” he said. “That’s what I am. I’ve been enlightened. And now I look back at it and I think to myself, I’m glad that I got cancer. Isn’t that something? It really opened up my eyes. It made me realize that life really is important. And I’m only 52 years old – I hope I can go another 52!”
Following Wayne Osmond’s death, his siblings have taken to social media to pen tribute to the musician. “A true legend has left the Earth. My heart is deeply saddened for the loss of my brother Wayne. It is said that where there is great love there is great grief as we part during our earthly journey,” Jay Osmond. “Throughout my life I have always felt most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings. He was my roommate and my confidant over the decades.”
Merrill also noted his late brother’s positive characteristics in his touching tribute. “When I learned that my dear brother Wayne had a massive stroke, my immediate response was to fall to my knees and pray for him to receive the assurance that his mission had been accomplished, and he was successful in this endeavor in many ways. I immediately drove to the hospital in SLC to see him, and I was able to say my goodbyes,” Merrill wrote. “My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in,” Merrill continued.
“I’ve never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met. His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine… I am so grateful to have grown up with one of heavenly father’s greatest sons.”