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Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
Donny Osmond welcomes Susan Boyle to “Donny & Marie” at the Flamingo on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 | 2:11 p.m.
Donny Osmond, Susan Boyle and Marie Osmond at the Flamingo on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
It’s been a big week for Susan Boyle, the “Britain's Got Talent” breakout star from 2009, as she performed not once but twice with Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond -- her childhood idol and crush (call it “Puppy Love”).
The British singer, plucked from obscurity into YouTube and music fame, performed with Osmond during the results show of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday night.
Their duet, “This Is the Moment” from the musical “Jekyll & Hyde,” was an emotional and big hit on the episode, and Osmond comforted a visibly nervous Boyle, who appeared on the show for the third time, by holding her hand.
On Wednesday night, Boyle made her debut on the Strip in “Donny & Marie” and once again performed “This Is the Moment” with Osmond at the Flamingo Showroom. Dressed in a brown and black floor-length gown, she was very shy onstage, got choked up and nearly burst into tears during one line and received a rousing standing ovation alongside Osmond.
She also performed “Who I Was Born to Be” to another standing ovation. It was emotional and riveting, and one can’t help but root for Boyle. Asked by Osmond how it feels to be on a Las Vegas stage after their duet, she replied, “It feels absolutely awesome.”
It was my first time seeing “Donny & Marie,” and I was blown away by the talent and charisma of the entertainment industry veteran brother-and-sister duo. Their music medleys and dancing are infectious and really fun. Their teasing banter is hilarious, and their interaction with the audience and their fans is refreshing and commendable.
“Pie Jesu,” Marie’s tribute to her late son Michael performed as a soprano, is stunning. The extensive and eclectic setlist includes “Paper Roses,” “Puppy Love,” “Crazy Horses,” “Yo-Yo,” “All That Jazz,” “Cabaret” and “Soldier of Love.” Marie is a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, after all. Their closing Broadway medley -- featuring songs from “The Sound of Music,” “The King & I,” “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Beauty & the Beast, “Wicked” and more -- is absolutely fabulous.
Boyle’s new album, “Standing Ovation,” drops Nov. 13 and includes two duets with Osmond and one with Michael Crawford, “Mr. Phantom of the Opera.” Thanks to contributing photographer Tom Donoghue for his photo gallery of Osmond and Boyle onstage Wednesday night at the Flamingo and his red carpet photograph of Boyle with Donny and Marie.
Don Chareunsy is editor of VegasDeLuxe.com and senior editor, arts and entertainment, of LasVegasSun.com.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
I thought Susan Boyle was on "Britain's Got Talent", not "The X Factor".