Donny Osmond Reveals Michael Jackson’s Offensive 1980s Career Advice

Donny Osmond recently shared that Michael Jackson gave him blunt and "offensive" advice in the 1980s about his struggling solo career, telling him his name was "poison" to radio DJs and suggesting he change it to regain chart success. Osmond explained that after his 1970s fame with The Osmonds and the variety show "Donny & Marie," his name had become a liability, causing stations like New York's WPLJ to play his 1988 single "Soldier of Love" without mentioning his name. Despite the initial sting, Osmond acknowledged that Jackson’s advice was correct, as radio stations anonymously played his music in 1989, which helped the song become a hit once his identity was revealed. Osmond also reflected on the deep friendship he shared with Jackson, noting their similar upbringings as the seventh of nine siblings and their shared experiences rising to fame as child stars in large musical families. Their connection was further explored in the 2024 documentary "Larger than Life: Reign of the Boybands." Meanwhile, anticipation builds for the upcoming 2026 biopic "Michael," which explores Jackson's life and faced significant production challenges.