Introduction:
When Alan Osmond walks into a room, the first thing people notice isn’t that he sold over 100 million records, or that he helped build one of the most successful musical dynasties in America. It’s the way he talks about family — with reverence, humor, and deep gratitude.
Sitting beside his son, recording artist David Osmond, Alan spoke recently about his new book One Way Ticket, a heartfelt journey through the triumphs and trials of his life, his family, and the legacy that still brings generations of fans together.
“Crazy Horses” — and the Fire That Followed
When asked which song he most loved performing, Alan doesn’t hesitate.
“Crazy Horses,” he grinned. “People don’t always realize — it was one of the first anti-pollution songs. We wrote what we saw. The smokestacks looked like wild horses on the run.”
The hit took on a life of its own — banned in South Africa (where “crazy horses” was slang for heroin), adopted by rock audiences in Europe, and even praised by Ozzy Osbourne.
“That song turned screaming girls into full rock crowds,” David laughs. “Dad told the band, ‘cut Puppy Love — there’s no way we’re doing that tonight.’”
Osmond Fireworks, Faith, and Resilience
Alan doesn’t just talk about music — he talks about vision. Literally.
“My TV director told me, ‘It’s not tele-sound, it’s tele-VISION.’ So I gave people something to see. Fireworks. Grand entrances. Stadium scale!”
No exaggeration — the group once lit over one million firecrackers in six seconds, earning them a Guinness World Record.
But behind the spectacle was discipline. Training. Hard work. And for Alan, a calling.
Family — The Real Headline
The Osmonds were nine children, but two of the eldest brothers were born deaf. Far from sidelining them, Alan says they shaped everything the family became — their compassion, their drive, their sense of purpose.
“Family is everything. We never cared who was in front. We were all behind each other. We were in tune because we worked at it.”
And then came the next generation — David, following his father’s footsteps not just in music, but in courage. Both father and son live with MS, though each differently.
“MS doesn’t have me,” Alan says firmly. “You fight. You focus. You get tough.”
David quietly nods beside him — a mirror of his father’s resilience.
The Love Story That Never Needed a Spotlight
Alan smiles most when talking about Suzanne, his wife of 50 years.
“She was my dream girl,” he says softly. “She never even saw me perform until after we got married.”
Thirteen days after their engagement, they wed — and that night, Alan was back onstage in Las Vegas, playing banjo, trumpet, and dancing under the lights.
“I married the man, not the star,” Suzanne once said. It worked — half a century later, the glow remains.
The Priority They Never Compromised
From Ogden to London to global arenas, one motto followed every tour bus, every rehearsal, every hard decision:
God. Family. Showbiz.
Not the other way around.
“We always told people,” Alan adds, “if you’re going to do this, keep your soul at the front. Everything else comes second.”
What Comes Next
Along with his book release, Alan is still writing music — much of it spiritual — and he hopes it inspires others to keep fighting for hope the same way he did.
“We live forever. This life is a one-way ticket home. You make it what you want, and you love people on the way.”
The Osmonds once lived under the roar of “Osmond Mania,” balconies collapsing from crowd pressure, fans hiding in crates just to get backstage. Today, the applause looks different — softer, deeper.
It looks like gratitude.
It looks like legacy.
It looks like faith that never aged out of style.