Watch the video at the end of this article.
Introduction
Donny Osmond recently opened up about a candid and stinging piece of advice he once received from Michael Jackson during a low point in his career, calling it “very offensive” at the time. People.com+2EW.com+2 In the early 1980s, as Osmond struggled to be taken seriously beyond his teen‐idol image, he turned to Jackson—who was then enjoying massive success—for guidance about how to revive his chart presence. WCIV+3People.com+3American Songwriter+3 Jackson’s response was blunt: “Your name’s poison, Donny. You gotta change your name.” People.com+2EW.com+2 Osmond admitted that hearing this was painful and humiliating. People.com+2American Songwriter+2 But in retrospect, he admitted Jackson’s harsh counsel had a kernel of truth. People.com+2EW.com+2
Osmond explained that when his 1988 single “Soldier of Love” first received airplay in the U.S., many radio stations played it but deliberately omitted his name, to test listener reaction without the baggage of his teen‐idol legacy. People.com+2EW.com+2 To his surprise, the strategy worked: the song climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. People.com+2EW.com+2 Osmond reflected that, in that sense, Michael’s suggestion—though harsh—foresaw the potency of anonymity in letting the music speak for itself. People.com+2EW.com+2 He chose not to actually change his name, yet the effect was similar: the initial refusal to tie the song to his persona freed it to be judged on merit alone. American Songwriter+2EW.com+2
Beyond that singular episode, Osmond has long cherished his friendship with Jackson, noting many uncanny parallels in their backgrounds: both were the seventh child in large musical families, both rose to fame as child performers, and both endured the pressures of self-reinvention. WCIV+3EW.com+3People.com+3 In the end, although Jackson’s counsel initially stung, Osmond acknowledged that sometimes tough love can push an artist to break free from the shadows of past identity—and find a renewed voice. EW.com+2American Songwriter+2