Marie Osmond breaks silence over brother Wayne’s death one week after tragedy as she issues statement
Marie Osmond has broken her silence over the death of her brother Wayne, who passed away on New Year’s Day aged 73.
The singer, 65, took to Instagram yesterday to share an emotional tribute, revealing his death had left “another giant hole” in her heart.
Wayne, a founding member of The Osmonds, died after suffering a massive stroke at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Marie disclosed that she had visited her brother just weeks before his death, following a spiritual compulsion to see him.
“I will cherish those hours I spent with him for the rest of my life,” she wrote, adding that he was “one of the most loving men I have ever known.”
In her lengthy social media post, Marie shared intimate details of their final moments together.
“What stands out to me as his sister were the joy-filled, humorous times I spent laughing with him and our deep intellectual conversations that left me edified,” she wrote.
She praised Wayne’s devotion to his family, particularly his wife Kathy and their children and grandchildren, noting “it’s all he ever talked about.”
Marie also highlighted her brother’s strong religious faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“He was always my safe place to go when I needed advice,” she added, describing him as having “unwavering devotion to God.”
Her tribute concluded with the heartfelt message: “Wayne, I could not cherish the gift God gave me more than to be loved by you in this life!”
Wayne was the second-oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singers, who began their musical journey in 1958 as a barbershop quartet.
The group, initially comprising Wayne, Alan, Merrill, and Jay, was discovered performing at Disneyland in 1961.
Wayne played multiple instruments in the band, including guitar and drums, and possessed perfect pitch, taking over vocal arrangement duties from his mother.
The Osmonds achieved significant success in 1971 with their hit single “One Bad Apple,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks.
Wayne’s final performance with his brothers came in 2019 on CBS’s The Talk, where they performed as a special birthday tribute to Marie.
In the band, he was known for his musical versatility, having mastered eight different instruments during his career.
Wayne had faced significant health challenges throughout his later years.
In 1997, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which was successfully treated but left him nearly deaf and reliant on a cochlear implant.
A stroke in 2012 had already impacted his ability to play guitar, before the final, fatal stroke this New Year’s Day.
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His brother Donny, 67, shared a touching tribute on social media, calling Wayne “the ultimate optimist” who “brought so much light, laughter, and love.”
Merrill Osmond, 71, described his brother as having “absolute no guile” and being “quick to forgive.”
Jay Osmond, 69, who called Wayne his “roommate and confidant,” said he had “always felt most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings.”