SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7, 2007
Marie Osmond Keeps "Dancing" Despite Loss
The Osmond Family Patriarch, George Osmond, Is Dead At 90
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George and Olive Osmond said "I do" in 1944, were married for 60 years, had nine children, 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. All but two of their children went into show business. (AP/Courtesy of Osmond Family)
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George Osmond, father of groom Donny in May 1978 and father-in-law to new bride Debra, flanks the happy couple with his wife, Olive, at near left next to Marie, joined by their other sons and their wives. (AP Photo/Tom Smart)
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George and Olive Osmond, in an undated photo with their children, from left to right, top row: Wayne, Tom, Virl, Merrill; center row: Jay, George, Marie, Olive, Alan; and foreground: Jimmy and Donny. (AP/Courtesy of Osmond Family)
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Marie Osmond recently fainted on "Dancing with the Stars." (AP/CBS)
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The 48-year-old singer, who missed Tuesday's results show after the death of father George Osmond, will continue to compete on the top-rated dance competition, ABC publicist Aime Wolfe said Wednesday.
George Osmond, patriarch to the family's singing group, The Osmond Brothers, died Tuesday. He was 90.
Family spokesman Kevin Sasaki said Osmond died at his home in Provo, Utah. Because he had not been ill, he likely died from natural causes, Sasaki said.
In addition to continuing to compete on "Dancing with the Stars" Marie Osmond will also appear with family members -- including brother Donny -- on Oprah Winfrey's talk show Friday, said Don Halcombe, a publicist at Harpo, Winfrey's production company. Besides showing off her dance moves, she will perform the theme song from "The Donny and Marie Show" with her brother, Donny, as a tribute to their father, the "Entertainment Tonight" Web site reported.
More than 100 family members will reunite on the show, Oprah's Web site said.
Marie Osmond, who fainted following a live performance of "Dancing with the Stars" two weeks ago, had been scheduled to appear on Tuesday night's results segment, but instead boarded a plane in Los Angeles with her brother for Utah.
"He was the best man I've ever known," Donny Osmond told the "Entertainment Tonight" Web site.Photos: Dancing With The Stars
George Osmond married his wife, Olive, on Dec. 1, 1944. She died in 2004. The couple were the parents of nine children, many of whom became singing stars. Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay Osmond first became famous as The Osmond Brothers, a barbershop quartet singing at Disneyland and on "The Andy Williams Show."
George Osmond had 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.
A World War II veteran, Osmond also served missions for the Mormon church in Hawaii and the United Kingdom. In his professional life, he worked in real estate, insurance sales and was once the postmaster for the city of Ogden. He gave up his work to manage the singing careers of his children.
Together, Osmond and his wife formed the Osmond Foundation, which later became the Children's Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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