By Melina Khan
Alan Osmond, the eldest sibling of the family pop group The Osmonds, has died, according to multiple news reports. He was 76.
The singer died on April 20 with his wife Suzanne and their eight sons at his side, a family spokesperson said in a statement to KSL, KUTV and ABC4.
The brother of fellow singers Donny and Marie Osmond, Alan Osmond’s career began when he and brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay started a barbershop quartet group in the late 1950s. Donny and Jimmy, another brother, joined the group by the 1970s.
Alan Osmond performs at the Orleans Hotel & Casino on Aug. 14, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. By Ethan Miller, Getty Images
After his career in music, Alan Osmond spoke publicly about his decades long battle with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neurological disease that causes numbness and weakness, per the Mayo Clinic.
A Utah native, he was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He published an autobiography of his life, “One Way Ticket,” in 2024.
USA TODAY has reached out to the Osmond family for comment.
‘He is free,’ Merrill Osmond says of brother Alan’s death
Four members of American singing group the Osmonds – from left to right, brothers Alan, Merrill, Jay and Wayne Osmond in 1979. By Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In a social media post, Merrill Osmond confirmed Alan’s death, writing that he had seen his brother two days earlier.
“We talked as brothers do, heart to heart. He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle… and then he smiled,” Merrill Osmond wrote.
He continued: “My brother has now stepped into the presence of our Father in Heaven with honor and peace. His life was not measured in years, but in love, sacrifice, and purpose. His creativity, his vision, and his deep understanding of the Savior’s teachings were simply part of who he was.”
Merrill Osmond also urged fans not to “let your hearts be heavy.”
“Don’t weep for him. Rejoice, knowing that your brother, your friend, your hero is no longer in pain. He is free. He is whole. He is home,” he wrote.
Donny Osmond remembers brother Alan as ‘my protector’
Donny Osmond paid tribute to his older brother in an Instagram post on April 21, sharing what he said was “one of the earliest pictures” of the two together.
“Even back then, you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me. That’s who he was. My protector. My guide. The one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine,” he wrote.
Donny Osmond continued: “Alan was our leader in every sense of the word. His tireless work helped build everything we became. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed—not just to me, but to every member of our family.”
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alan Osmond, oldest member of The Osmonds, dies at 76