Marie Osmond Makes Tearful Return to Stage

March 10, 2010 | Remembered

An emotional Marie Osmond returned to her Las Vegas show with her brother Donny on Tuesday night, the first time since the Feb. 26th suicide death of her son, Michael Bryan -- and just one day after his funeral.

Marie and Donny Osmond performing

Dedicating the show to her late son, whom Marie called "her angel," the sold-out crowd gave her a standing ovation when Donny said, "I think we need to give a big round of applause for my sister for even coming on stage," People.com reports.

"The way Osmonds survive is we keep singing," Marie told the audience at the Flamingo Las Vegas. "That's what we want to do tonight. I know my son would want that and this show is for him."

Marie struggled through some of the musical numbers, including the final song "It Takes Two," but managed to remain as upbeat as possible, joking with her brother about his dancing skills. At the end, Donny gave his sister a big hug.

"I hope you all appreciate what she's going through tonight," Donny said.

comments

@kellie

Are you from the US? Did you mean to say most jobs give a paid bereavement period of 6 months?

That’s unheard of. No job gives 6 months off paid, unless maybe you’re in Sweden. Standard bereavement is 5 days. Some jobs give 3.

Many bosses are more understanding, but no work would give over 2 weeks.

Jackie
March 11, 2010

@kellie

Punctuation, much?

To be honest, I cannot decipher a lot of your rambling, ungrammatical message.

You said you didn’t blame Marie. Yes, you did. You wrote, “…perhaps……being away, so much…….unable to communicate when things are desperate, lead to his demise…in one way or another……….”

All of this, and most of your new message assumes so much. You ASSUME he was unable to communicate. You ASSUME she was away “so much.”

How often is a parent supposed to visit a child in college? She visited once a week. My parents visited once a semester.

“He obviously needed more compensation.” How do you know? Are you aware of the physical effects of depression. It isn’t dependent on “compensation” or, as I would say, attention.

From everyone around him, it seems he was in treatment for depression, that he had a lot of friends and that he saw his Mom all the time.

I really don’t get the issue you have with Marie.

You say I don’t know anything about “psychology.”

Actually, I specialize in grief support for children and families following the deaths of family members or close friends.

After a tragedy like this, children need (1) to know their Mom is okay, (2) to know they are safe and their families are safe, (3) to understand it’s not their fault what happened, (4) to accept they will be angry and that’s okay, and (5) to return to a sense of normalcy as soon as possible.

Marie is doing this both for herself (to stave off a return of her own chronic depression) and for her kids. She’s working 3 hours per evening five days per week. That includes the travel to and from the show. 15 hours per week of work, including travel. The first hour of each day of that includes time with the kids at the theater.

I applaud you for your sacrifices for your kids. But, no one is the same.

You can’t know about insurance for the staff (and judging from the producer’s comments, they don’t seem to have had that). You can’t know three quarters of what you said. You assume based on YOUR experiences.

That’s not kind or compassionate.


Jackie
March 11, 2010

OMG people….give it a rest and shut the F up….i’ll bet all of you that have posted any kind of remark dont even know her. How dare you criticize and demean someone that you don’t even know. Let the woman grieve her own way.
Her family knows what her job is and that she has a commitment not to mention a contract, i’m sure. but, nontheless, it’s none of your business any more than it is mine. let it go for god’s sake…let it go!

Anna
March 11, 2010

As far as your comment Theresa, most people HAVE to return to work. MOST people do NOT have MILLIONS to be able to even consider taking time off with out pay but,as far as even that is concerned, most full time jobs give a bereavement period of 6 paid months. I wouldn’t leave my kids at home and joke on stage for the show to go on because he would want it, who knows what he wished he could have had. It obviously wasn’t met, which is heartbreaking for any parent.

kellie
March 10, 2010

@Jackie aka Anonymous

So sorry I don’t feel the “same” as you. I have children, I didn’t work during their young years, sacrificed, so that they wouldn’t be raised by someone or day cares. I know all people aren’t able to do that and keep their beautiful homes. I continued living in a 14X70 mobile home until my kids were older and I could work, (concurring as much as possible with the school schedule)As far as kindness and talking to her son, you even stated, it was “according to his friends.” He was young, he obviously needed more compensation than he received. I’m not saying its because of her parenting skills, I’m commenting on her quick return to work(by the way..insurance ring a bill? they have clauses for traumas such as this for the crews wages)If you did some psychology training as I have(I have a psychology major and sociology minor)you might realize that such a “public” form of suicide is a way for celebrity children to stand out on their own in the final moments of their lives as they have been in the shadow of the famous parent for so long, that it is the way for them to command attention in the end. Your obviously angered so much by my observation that you are intelligently unable to realize that regardless how or why he committed suicide, it was NOT her Fault, and I have been a fan of them since I was 12yrs old, but unfortunately, signs and trouble had been happening for years, not saying she had to MOPE around(stupid statement) but that perhaps she should have worried more before she committed to a LA show to follow her son (years if needed) to a healthy conclusion with medication and counseling and not be bothered with dancing/rehearsing with DWTS and a Vegas show which, as you obviously don’t realize amounted to an extreme amount of time away from home. Phone calls DON’T HELP when the child/adult child is so troubled.

kellie
March 10, 2010

Most people have to return to work within a week or so after the death of a loved one. Why would or should we look at Marie Osmond any different than the norm?

Theresa
March 10, 2010

@kellie

One final thing - 125 people work on that show, many on PER SHOW contracts. In particular her back up dancers and the stage tech crew. They didn’t get paid for almost two weeks. Should Marie ignore the fact that they can’t feed their kids if she locks herself at home moping like you seem to want her to do?

Like I said, you don’t know much.

Anonymous
March 10, 2010

@kellie -

Maybe you’re not aware that Marie’s son was away in college. Yet, she saw him once a week and spoke to him often on the phone (according to his friends). His friends unanimously said how close he was to his Mom.

In fact, I suspect you’re not aware of much… including how to have compassion. How dare you blame ANYONE for this young man’s death? You don’t know him. You don’t know them.

Learn some kindness. And I hope the bitterness inside you is cured someday.

Jackie
March 10, 2010

Marie has given so much of herself to so many people only to have her heart broken so many times. God Bless you Marie.

olive laurene
March 10, 2010

sure they are under a contract……..to keep receiving $125,000 per show! I have grown up with the Osmonds also, but truly believe this is not a distraction, its not a tribute, its a way for her to continue living…..with her children being taken care of by someone else at this traumatic time. People on here, seem to see this as heroic I feel its a shame. Perhaps you’d be able to go to work after such a devastating experience, I know, I would continue to pass up the paycheck without the worry of foreclosure(how much money can she possibly need?)and stay with my other children to be a mother………perhaps……being away, so much…….unable to communicate when things are desperate, lead to his demise…in one way or another……….

kellie
March 10, 2010

My thougths and prayers go out to the entire Osmond family. As a mother I can’t imagine what it would be like losing a child and what pain she must be going through. I hope none of us ever have to experience the pain she is going through. She is lucky to have such a supportive family. God Bless Marie and her family. She is one class act!

Ana
March 10, 2010

Marie needed to stay busy it seems that the stage for her can be saving her sanity! You do what is right for you. If getting back to her routine is what keeps her together, then I’m all for it. She is a couragious and strong woman, and a great example for her children. God Bless you Marie!

Christine
March 10, 2010

How can people criticize Marie for returning to work so early? WTF! It was two weeks after. Most businesses (like mine) only give people three to five days bereavement time. I know I was better off going back to work after three days because it kept my mind off of everything else. My love and kisses to Marie and family.

Courtney
March 10, 2010

No,no. Death is the exception to the rule of show business,”The show must go on.
“. Give it a break.It’s about him now.

Anonymous
March 10, 2010

My heart aches for what has happened to the Osmond family and my heart and prayers go out to them. I had the pleasure of meeting the family, many years ago when we were all kids and they were living in Arleta, CA. They opened their hearts to a silly 11 year old kid, an infatuated fan and they treated me with respect. That left a permanent mark on me and I am no 51. My love to your whole family Marie, and know that there are people who really do treasure all the things you have given, to all of us throughout these years. I send you and your whole family my love!

Vicky Anderson-Lincoln, NE.
March 10, 2010

I have been reading some very mean things on the internet, being said about Marie, criticising her returning to work so soon. I am beyond angry at the audacity of these cruel people. Donny and Marie are under contract! They have NO choice! They MUST return to work… AND they ALSO have to make up they days they missed while they were mourning this tragic loss! So if you are even THINKING of criticizing her, pray for her to be able to get through this instead.God Bless Donny also for being the shoulder for her to cry on, when he has to be hurting too.

B. Bauman
March 10, 2010
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