Western Governors University graduate spreading hope - ksl.com

SALT LAKE CITY -- Thousands of people graduated from Western Governors University Saturday. Among them -- an impressive man who's overcome big odds and is now spreading hope around the world.

Walking to the sound of the graduation march, 255 students filed into Abravanel Hall to receive their diplomas. Osmond family member Justin Osmond was with them.
Justin has lost 90-percent of his hearing, but he didn't let that hold him back from earning his master's degree.
"It's been a great journey for me and I'm a better person because of it," he said. "I hope I can take what I've learned, go out in the world and make a difference."
Justin is already making a difference with a foundation that helps children around the world who have lost their hearing.

 VIDEO:
Western Governors University graduate spreading hope - ksl.com

What have I been up to?

 
Have you been following Merrill's new blog? 

I know it’s been awhile since I updated my blog but in the next few weeks I’ll try to catch up on some great things that have happened in the last few months. I’ll talk about my new Love Song CD, some of the places I’m going both on tour and off. 

See More: Merrill Osmond Live Journal  

"The Wii Fitters"

"The Wii Fitters"

Yesterday afternoon we drove down to Steve's house for the weekend. Anneli met a couple of her friends from Richmond in Arizona for a short vacation. The grandchildren had a new toy - a Wii Fit and we had so much fun doing the "Just Dance Kids" while Steve finished working for the day. What great exercise and fun we had together for hours. We even talked grandpa into taking a turn.

How are your fitness goals coming? I walked a lot on the cruise and will spend the next couple of days having fun with "Just Dance Kids." It's a great way to get some aerobic exercise. Has anyone bought "Dance Party" or an adult version that they have loved - to help me decide whether to buy this one or an adult version? The kids version was hard enough for me. Ha!

 

Follow Kathy's blog:  One Bad Apple Dish

'Jonah and the Great Fish' translates better to film

OREM, Utah — Not so engaging as a stage musical, "Jonah and the Great Fish" works much better as a film adaptation.

Originally performed on stage at the SCERA Center for the Arts, the film version of "Jonah," starring David Osmond as the main character, was screened recently at the LDS Film Festival.

Read the complete story on MormonTimes.com.

Justin Osmond beats the odds to speak at grad ceremony

Justin Osmond, the son of Merrill Osmond, was born with 90-percent hearing loss in both of his ears.

However, by practicing for hours a day, Justin learned to speak and even play several instruments, including the violin, piano, viola and drums.

He continues to give back to others who are hearing-impaired with the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund, which he founded in honor of his grandmother.

To continue his non-profit work, Justin decided to go back to school for his MBA at Western Governors University, headquartered here in Salt Lake City.
On Feb. 12 Justin will graduate and has been selected as one of the student speakers at WGU’s winter commencement ceremony. For someone who struggled to speak, Justin is now making a graduation speech in front of thousands of people.

SOURCE: SL Tribune

Disney Cashes In On The Osmonds Family Act Formula!

Disney, the empire that Walt Disney built back in the early 1940′s-50′s has really hit its stride lately. WEith the success of their Disney cable channels and hit shows to boot (That’s So Raven, Hannah Montana, The Wizards of Waverly Place, The Jonas Brothers) they’ve been knocking them out of the park for the past ten years or more now. but what’s really surprising is the success of their radio stations Disney radio and recording artists to boot. With Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers, and Zack Ephron just to name a few Disney is raking in millions of dollars annually throug their record sales. A lot of the credit goes to their formula in packaging good clean family entertainment while keeping up with the current trends in fashion and music. They’ve done very well at it for a while now but I can’t help drawing comparisons to an older act that Disney helped to laung onto the world-stage a while ago; and they were the Osmonds.

MORE

Justin Osmond Hearing Disability & Boys & Girls Club Interview

Justin Osmond, a member of the world famous Osmond clan, talks about his hearing disability with a teen reporter from the Boys & Girls Clubs during the Starkey Hearing Foundation donation at the 2008 MLB All-Star game festivities in July, 2008.

Source: http://radiodownsound.com/2011/01/16/justin-osmond-hearing-disability-boys-girls-club-interview/

Radio Down Sound

Justin Osmond finds a way despite hearing loss

“When there’s a will, there’s always a way,” says Justin Osmond.

Osmond doesn’t just say that; he means it. He is living proof we can do great things no matter what challenges we face.

Born with 90-percent hearing loss in both of his ears, Osmond has had to work extra hard to find his way.
Read the complete story on MormonTimes.com.

Merrill Osmond Shares Tale of Chronic Back Pain

Merrill Osmond Shares Tale of Chronic Back Pain: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Donny & Marie: A Broadway Christmas

Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas, a new holiday production starring America's favorite sibling entertainers, will play a limited engagement through December 30, 2010, at Broadway's Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the first performance last night and brings you photo coverage of the finale below!

Read more: http://broadwayworld.com/topicinfo.php?id=92#ixzz17jDX5TEM

 

Includes Photos! 

Donny Osmond Bounces Off the Walls on 'GMA' (VIDEO)

Donny Osmond must have an internal source of energy that most humans do not possess. He and his sister Marie visited 'Good Morning America' (Weekdays, 7AM on ABC) today to promote 'Donny and Marie: A Broadway Christmas,' and Donny's effusive, seemingly boundless spirit could not be contained.

Corny one-liners flowed freely. "We give them soup to nuts," he said of the Christmas show's content. "She's soup and I'm nuts! I got a million one-liners today, baby!"

"He doesn't take anything, either," offered Marie. Danny noted that he doesn't even drink caffeine, before shouting and pumping his fists with exuberance. Host Robin Roberts then showed a photo of Justin Bieber side-by-side with a shot of Donny in his teen idol prime, at which point Osmond jokingly accused Bieber of stealing his hair style.

Still pumped up at the end of the segment, Donny couldn't simply drop a coat in the bin for a charity coat drive, he tossed it in from three-point range. If you want to see the Broadway show, you might want to do so soon, before Mr. Osmond explodes.

SEE THE VIDEO

Donny & Marie Speak Their Minds

They have a hit show together on the Las Vegas Strip, but Donny and Marie Osmond’s old sibling rivalry is still simmering. Marie came in third place on the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars but bragging rights belong to Donny, who won the show’s ninth season. Now, Donny and Marie Osmond open up on the important things in life such as Elvis, time travel, the Powerpuff Girls and, yes, even Justin Bieber.

If I weren’t an entertainer…
Donny: Out of a job.
Marie: Sane!

In my next life I want to come back as…
Donny: Elvis.
Marie: A spirit. After thousands of hours spent on plane rides and bus tours, it would be great to just “appear” wherever I needed to be next.

My most recurring dream is…
Donny: A nightmare of dancing with Marie onstage. Oh, wait! I guess I’m living the dream.
Marie: That I could actually get enough sleep to have a dream.

MORE plus photo:
http://www.vegasplayermagazine.com/2010/11/donny-marie-speak-their-mind/

Join THE FAMILY

Osmond Network <http://osmond.net/>  has launched a NEW web design for TheFamiy.com <http://thefamily.com/>  with many new features creatively designed to help "Strengthen Families".

Alan and Suzanne Osmond are the hosts of this new interactive site with videos, audio, photos, daily inspiration, a family forum and family blog with helps to "strengthen" The Body, The Mind, The Spirit, The Family and
The World" for Families.

It has the latest technology of WordPress with access to social networks like facebook, twitter, youtube, google, buzz, designfloat, delicious, digg, stumbleupon, reddit, technorati, RSS feed, friend links, etc. with site map,
search and archive capabilities that is easy to use for all members of the family.  We also have a monthly newsletter that you can receive, FREE. If ever there was a time that the family has been challenged, targeted, and exposed to violence, sex  and pornography, foul language, drugs and explicit photos, vulgar scenes, unhealthy foods, disrespect, broken marriages and homes, with a negative outlook for their future, it is NOW!

We need to "Get NoiZ" and turn this world around. In fact, it is NOW time to RESCUE the Family from the worldliness. Please get your friends and ALL of the family to join us at:

http://thefamily.com <http://thefamily.com/> .

Donny Osmond reveals secrets to his happy 32-year marriage

Great interview with Donny by Robin Leach. Here's the link:

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-life/2010/oct/11/photos-donny-osmond-reveals-secrets-his-happy-32-y/

Donny Osmond – DWTS Season 11

Hollyscoop.com gets the scoop from Donny Osmond and his brothers on why they support National Multiple Sclerosis, as well as his thoughts on Season 11 of Dancing With The Stars. Interviews by Mathew Hoffman. For up-to-the-minute celebrity news, visit www.hollyscoop.com Celebrity Photos http Celebrity Videos www.hollyscoop.com Movie Trailers www.hollyscoop.com

Video: http://www.popularcelebrityblog.com/donny-osmond-dwts-season-11.php

10 Days ’til 10-10-10

A perfect 10. A dime. When someone or something is deemed a 10, that means they’ve really got it going on.
With 10-10-10 (Oct. 10, 2010) only 10 days away, Vegas celebrates this once-in-our-lifetime in style. With participating properties like Caesars Palace and Hard Rock, Vegas takes 10-10-10 to a whole new level.
Caesars Palace
If you’ve ever been to Caesars Palace, chances are you’ve seen the moving statues at the Forum Shops. But on 10-10-10, you will get the chance to see a different kind of show-stopper.

On this day at 10:10 a.m., 10 couples will pronounce their love with a simultaneous engagement at the Trevi Fountain in front of the Forum Shops. In addition, Las Vegas performer and the event’s emcee Donny Osmond will re-propose to his wife of more than 30 years.

After the couples say yes, Osmond will escort these couples to Tiffany & Co. for a ring consultation and a special champagne toast.

MORE: http://blog.vegas.com/more-las-vegas-news/10-days-til-10-10-10-10254/

Donny & Marie set for New Year's Eve at Mystic Lake

Donny and Marie
Donny and Marie Osmond will sing, dance and yuk it up on New Year's Eve at Mystic Lake Casino.

The singing siblings, who are veterans of talk TV as well as "Dancing with the Stars," will join a list of big-name acts who have performed in Prior Lake on Dec. 31. Among those who previously rang in the New Year at Mystic are Carrie Underwood, Whoopi Goldberg and Don Rickles.

Donny and Marie, who are under contract to perform at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas through October 2012,  will perform two shows in Prior Lake on Dec. 31,  one at 7 and another at 10:30 p.m.
Tickets, priced at $75, will go on sale Oct. 16 via Ticketmaster and the Mystic Lake box office.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/104136354.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUdcOy_nc:DKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Celebrities shine for MS Dinner of Champions

The gala in Los Angeles was a night to celebrate Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson for Universal’s continued support in the fight to end multiple sclerosis and honor David Osmond, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, but it was more than just a good time.

The 36th Annual MS Dinner of Champions raised $1.8 million to support worldwide MS research and vital programs and services for people living with MS and their families.

Donny Osmond stops by to chat: 

Video  Link: http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/818724/Celebrities-shine-for-MS-Dinner-of-Champions

Write the music for Alan's new song

Message from ALAN:

I have a FUN IDEA! Create the Music for this song like: Crazy Horses!
I just wrote this song and have copyrighted the lyrics! I am now looking for anyone who can musically create the music for this song and record it! After you do, Let me know at alan@thefamily.com.
Remember, I am the writer of the words.

The Fireman

(Verse One)
Life's about choosing . . . to make the right . . choice . .
Deciding 'the way' to go . . .  to follow the voice . .
It's all about freedom . . . and it's all up to you . . . but
You'll become . . . . . . what you decide. . to do . . .

There are two forces . . .the good and the bad . .
One makes you happy . . the other one sad . . .
I know I chose wrong . . . and there¹s a price I must pay . . .
But there's always ONE . . . who can save the day . . . I'm Lookin for
the. . .

(Chorus)
Fireman . . . cause he understands . . .how to
Fix the pain . . . put out the Fire . . .  I am
Filled with shame . . .  cause I am to blame. . . couldn't
Stop my heart's . . .burnin' desire . . . Would you

Hurry please . . . I'm begging on my knees . . .
I can feel the flames . . . the heat is on . . . I made a
Bad mistake . . . . . I hope it's not too late . . . will you for-
give me . . . please know that I was wrong!  OH . . .

Somebody help me. . .I do wanna live . . .
Give me another chance . . .try to forgive. .  I've
Learned a hard . . lesson . . my shame is in flames . . . please
Rescue my soul . . . my burning pains!

(Verse Two)
If for some reason . .  like me you¹re alone . . you
Took the wrong road . . . can't find your way home
There is always a light . . that will show you "The Way" . .  it's
Shining bright . . for a better day. . .  You must

Not give up hope . .  . someone's watching you . . . you
Think you're alone . . but it's just . not  . true . . .
If you are in trouble . . just humbly say . . .please
Help me . . . wash my tears a . . way . . .  cause I'm lookin' for the

©Alan R. Osmond  alan@thefamily.com

(Pass this on!)

Nathan Payson's Golden Onion Days

Nathan was featured in the Daily Herald today. Follow this link:

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/payson/article_55de7782-ba72-500f-aec2-fadebaa57a5e.html