Music helps Marie Osmond begin to heal during return Flamingo show

Larry Cruikshank / Special to the Home News

Marie Osmond and Donny Osmond perform at the Children’s Miracle Network Mardi Gras Ball in the Bellagio Ballroom in February 2009.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 | 12:35 p.m.

Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Donny Osmond and sister Marie Osmond during his return to the Flamingo with his champion's mirrored disco ball trophy on Nov. 25, 2009, after his win on ABC's Dancing With the Stars with Kym Johnson on Tuesday night.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images for AEG Live/Concerts West

Marie Osmond surprises Bette Midler onstage during the final performance of Bette's The Showgirl Must Go On in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Jan. 31, 2010.

Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Nevada Ballet Theater honored Marie Osmond as its Woman of the Year in the Champagne Ballroom of the Paris on Jan. 23, 2010. Marie is pictured here with George Wallace.

When a strong and courageous Marie Osmond finished her first return show last night after the tragic death of her son, it was her brother Donny who summed it up best: “I admire my sister. She got back onstage tonight. She did a great job and made it through the show.”

Less than 24 hours earlier, a sobbing Marie had leaned on him for support at the funeral in Provo, Utah, for 18-year-old Michael Bryan, who jumped to his death Feb. in Los Angeles. We posted our report on the funeral services yesterday.

Donny was there again to give her support during several moments in their headline Flamingo show, particularly at the end when she was in tears after “Remember When.” To start the evening, Marie had told the audience: “This show is for my son. He would have wanted this. We Osmonds get through this by keep on singing, and that’s what we’re going to do tonight.”

Fans brought dozens of floral bouquets and tributes to the theater for Marie, and the showroom was sold out. Several folks told me that they’d had tickets for shows last week that were canceled and decided to stay in Las Vegas for this week of shows.

Like everybody else, I purchased my tickets for last night’s show, as it was not a media event. Marie had requested that there would be “no interviews and no photographs until sufficient space” after the tragic suicide, and of course we are complying with that request.

It’s interesting that all the guys around me thought she’d crack on such a tough and emotional night, but all the ladies agreed that it was the best therapy for her to go on with the show and start the healing process.

Their show understandably started about 10 minutes late, but right from the beginning, Donny got the audience onto their feet for a long standing ovation and applause for Marie’s appearance. She looked great, shook hands and joked with front-row VIPs, but after their “Dancing in the Streets” duet, she talked to the audience again.

“It’s a little different show tonight. I had to rely on my faith to help me cope with this and get through the past week . I love God, and He was there for me,” she said as she revealed her next new album will be inspirational songs. Marie promised to pull herself together, and as she dedicated the next song “Requiem” to her son, the audience yelled out “we love you, Marie” in support. It was a brilliant and stirring emotion-packed rendition, and she teared up toward the end.

She laughed away the tears during the Dancing With the Stars dance-off because Donny didn’t stand a chance -- the entire audience voted for her as the winner! I laughed when she complained that in all the media reports, she’d been age 50 when she said she was only 29, and then drank a bottle of water in one gulp and quipped: “See! We Mormons do drink!”

There were some shaky moments for Marie when I feared that she’d be too overcome, but this is one fighting girl. Marie and the audience teared up when she and Donny sang “Remember When” before the closing song “Two of Us.” She openly cried over the words “Till he brings us together again.” Donny held her and said, “You don’t have to sing it.” But she did! Bravo! The audience was on its feet again when Donny said, “Give it up for my sister.”

It was at the very end of the show that she clutched onto Donny’s arm and waist as they walked up to the top of the stage stairs to say goodnight. She put her head on his shoulders. He hugged her in an embrace, and it was obvious to everybody that she was sobbing. But she’d made it through. Donny attended their regular meet-and-greet after the show solo for photos and autographs, as Marie remained quietly in her dressing room with family.

Every member of the audience I spoke with was unanimous in their praise for Marie. One guest at my table commented: “I never thought she’d get through the show. It takes a lot to do what she did. But as a family, they’ve got extraordinary strength and almost 50 years performing at back of them. This was a night one never forgets.”

Donny and Marie will perform this week at the Flamingo to make up for all of last week’s canceled shows, and then their regular schedule resumes. “All shows previously planned and announced will continue as normal,” one of the executives told me. “We hope it will go on to be a very long run because it’s a very successful show, and the audiences love them.”

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.