Watch the video at the end of this article.
Introduction
In a candid revelation that casts light on the intense pressures of reinvention in showbiz, Donny Osmond has shared how his longtime friend Michael Jackson offered him some brutally unsolicited—but ultimately pivotal—career advice.
During a July 30, 2023 interview on the Adam Carolla Show, which Donny later posted on Instagram, he recounted the notorious moment when Jackson bluntly remarked: “Your name’s poison, Donny. You’ve gotta change your name.” This advice came during a challenging period in the 1980s, when the “Donny Osmond” brand had become associated with a bygone era of wholesome bubblegum pop—so much so that radio stations were reluctant to attach his name to new music. Osmond explained how New York’s WPLJ initially tested his 1988 single “Soldier of Love” without revealing his identity, to positive listener response YouTube+1eurweb.com+1.
He admitted the advice stung: “It was very offensive, I mean, it was tough to hear that.” Yet, paradoxically, Jackson’s blunt assessment proved strategic. By allowing the song to stand on its own, without the baggage of Donny Osmond’s name, stations embraced it—and only later did listeners discover the singer behind the track, ultimately helping catalyze Osmond’s career revival eurweb.com.
This story didn’t emerge yesterday—it was brought to light recently, in mid-August 2025, when multiple outlets reported on it, including TV Insider on August 15 and EURweb on August 18 eurweb.com.
Osmond and Jackson’s friendship extended far beyond career counsel. Their bond was rooted in uncanny life parallels—they were both the seventh of nine children born to singing families, of almost the same age, with mothers sharing the same birthday. Their closeness was such that Jackson once told Osmond, “Donny, you’re the only person on this planet that knows what my childhood was like.” Osmond echoed the sentiment Yahoo+6eurweb.com+6Deseret News+6.
Their rapport was also featured in the 2024 documentary Larger than Life: Reign of the Boybands, which highlights the enduring bond between the two icons Yahoo+3Deseret News+3eurweb.com+3.
Why It Matters
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Image Reinvention: The episode underscores how entertainers can become trapped by their own fame—and the power of shedding preconceived identity to be heard anew.
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Tough Love from a Peer: Michael’s advice, though harsh, came from someone with deep empathy for Osmond’s experience—a reminder of the complex dynamics between compassion and confrontation.
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Reality of Pop Stardom: Decades after their boy-band fame, both artists grappled with evolution in a changing music landscape.
Suggested Headline
“Michael Jackson Told Me ‘Your Name’s Poison’: Donny Osmond Discusses Bold Advice That Revived His Career”