Alan Osmond, Oldest Member of The Osmonds, Dies at 76 After 40-Year Battle with Multiple Sclerosis

Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the chart-topping family act The Osmonds, has died at the age of 76 after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis. His passing was confirmed by family spokesperson on April 20, 2026, with his wife Suzanne and their eight sons at his side in Lehi, Utah.

Osmond’s career began in the late 1950s when he and his brothers Wayne, Merrill, and Jay formed a barbershop quartet in Ogden, Utah. The group later expanded to include Donny and Jimmy, becoming a defining act of the 1970s pop scene. As the oldest performing member, Osmond played a key role in shaping the Osmonds’ sound and image, contributing as a songwriter and performer on hits such as “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses,” and “Are You Up There?”

In the mid-to-late 1970s, Osmond transitioned into a principal producer role on ABC’s “The Donny and Marie Show,” helping guide the success of his younger siblings’ television careers. The Osmonds achieved nine gold records in 1971 alone, surpassing single-year bests by Elvis Presley and The Beatles at the time.

Despite his musical success, Osmond lived with multiple sclerosis for nearly 40 years. He spoke openly about the condition throughout his later career, describing how symptoms such as numbness and weakness affected his ability to perform and even hold his grandchildren. In a 2007 interview with NBC affiliate KSL, he shared that there were times he “could not pick up a penny” due to his symptoms.

Yet Osmond maintained a resilient outlook, often repeating his personal mantra: “I might have MS, but MS doesn’t have me.” This sentiment was echoed in a 2023 interview with KSL and featured in a family statement released after his death, which highlighted his 40-year battle with the neurological disease.

His wife, Suzanne Pinegar Osmond, whom he married in 1974, cared for him throughout his illness. The couple raised eight sons together. In his final days, Osmond used a wheelchair and spent a week in intensive care before returning home to receive hospice care.

Following his death, Merrill Osmond shared a tribute on social media, recalling a conversation with his brother just two days prior. “We talked as brothers do, heart to heart. He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle… and then he smiled,” Merrill wrote. He added that Alan had “stepped into the presence of our Father in Heaven with honor and peace,” urging fans not to mourn but to “rejoice, knowing that your brother, your friend, your hero is no longer in pain. He is free. He is whole. He is home.”

Donny Osmond also paid public tribute to his older brother, describing him as a “protector” and expressing gratitude for their bond. Alan Osmond published an autobiography, “One Way Ticket,” in 2024, reflecting on his life, faith, and perseverance through adversity.

A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Osmond remained active in his faith throughout his life. His legacy endures not only through the music he helped create but also through his openness about living with chronic illness and his message of resilience in the face of adversity.