Entertainer Donny Osmond recently reflected on a charming piece of music history involving his mother, Olive Osmond, and the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Speaking to BBC Radio and various outlets, the 68-year-old performer shared how Presley developed a warm, personal bond with Olive, frequently calling the family home just to chat with her away from the public eye.
How the Friendship Between Elvis and Olive Osmond Began
The connection between the legendary singer and the Osmond family blossomed in Las Vegas, where the young music family performed regular residencies while Elvis filled the showroom at the Hilton. Donny, who was 13 or 14 at the time, frequently watched the iconic performer command audiences. Behind the scenes, Elvis showed a completely different side of his personality.
According to the Osmond family, Elvis often sent guitar-shaped floral arrangements to their dressing rooms before shows. Oldest brother Alan and other family members recalled that the music icon felt an instant rapport with Olive. Having lost his own mother, Gladys, in August 1958, Elvis found comfort in Olive’s maternal presence, often describing her as a surrogate mother figure.
The Hilarious Phone Call Mistake
One of the most memorable anecdotes Donny shared involves a case of mistaken identity. On one particular afternoon, the telephone at the Osmond household rang, and brother Alan or Jay picked up the receiver.
“The phone rings, and my brother Alan [or Jay] picked up and said, ‘Hello?’ and he hears, ‘Is your mother there?’” Donny recounted during his BBC Radio interview. When the sibling asked who was calling, the deep-voiced caller simply replied, “Oh, this is Elvis.”
Failing to connect the famous name with the global superstar, the sibling casually shouted across the house, “Mom, some guy named Elvis is on the phone for you!” It wasn’t until later that the family realized they had been casually chatting with the King of Rock and Roll.
Life-Changing Advice From the King
Beyond the casual phone calls and backstage visits, Elvis left a lasting impression on a teenage Donny Osmond. In a separate interview, Donny revealed a poignant piece of advice Elvis shared with the family regarding his massive fame and subsequent isolation.
“I remember when we were talking to Elvis one day, our family even, he said, ‘If I could do it all over again, I’d get closer to my fans.’ I was 14 at the time when he said that, and it really, really influenced me that a guy this big… says he wishes he could get closer to his fans ’cause he was so isolated.”
Donny noted that this interaction heavily shaped his own lifelong dedication to interacting closely with his supporters through meet-and-greets and interactive stage performances throughout his career.
Remembering Olive Osmond
Olive Osmond raised nine children alongside her husband, George, guiding her family through the worlds of barbershop harmony, television variety shows, and global pop stardom. Her deep conversations with Elvis even touched on matters of faith, with Olive gifting him a copy of the Book of Mormon-a treasured token of their enduring friendship.
Although Elvis passed away in 1977 at the age of 42, and Olive passed away on Mother’s Day in 2004 at age 79, these heartwarming memories continue to live on through Donny and his siblings, offering fans a tender look at the human side of a musical legend.
