As I write this article, I’m listening to Napster. My mother just called up the stairs. I think she said something like, “Michelle Anne! Are you playing Puppy Love?” I’ll explain more about that song later. Right now, I have some Osmond news to share with you.

It’s an Anniversary Party!
The Osmond family is celebrating 50 years in entertainment on August 13 & 14, 2007. The shows will be held at The Orleans Hotel Showroom in Las Vegas.

Everyone is Invited!
Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie, and Jimmy will reunite for two live shows. Ticket prices range from $75 to $125 and fans will have the opportunity to attend a “Meet and Greet” and mingle with Osmond fans from around the world.

For more information about the “Meet and Greet”, you can visit www.osmonds50th.com.

The downside to this news is that there are only two shows. But, there is an upside. If you can’t get tickets or can’t travel to Las Vegas, don’t worry – you will still get a chance to see the celebration. The anniversary shows, complete with fan interviews, are being taped for a PBS special that will be aired on all PBS stations in the United States sometime in March, 2008.

My Obsession with Purple is Because of Donny!
My first celebrity crush was Donny Osmond (oops, sorry Clay Aiken).

When I was younger, I read in a fan magazine that Donny’s favorite color was purple and that he wore purple socks. I don’t know if that is why I love the color purple or if perhaps it was just a personality trait destined to be. I can confess to owning several pair of purple socks and seeing the Osmonds perform every time they visited the Ohio State Fair. I also can attest to succumbing to tears the day that Donny’s engagement was announced – I was in high school.

My favorite color is still purple, but the crush wore off and Donny married, had a family and later went on Broadway and continued a solo career as an adult. I often remember my fandom with fondness and embarrassment.

See, I thought I did some crazy things during my crush – like kissing a life size poster of Donny every night before I went to sleep and playing “Puppy Love” so many times that my parents threatened to “put it up” for a while. But, I never did anything legal – I mean I never went to a courthouse to proclaim my fandom for an Osmond. However, my friend did.

Danielle Didn’t Always Have a Middle Name
I met Danielle on a Clay Aiken fan board. Go figure, aye? We had a lot in common, including a crush on Donny and an obsession for the Osmonds. One thing we did not share was the acquisition of our middle names. At birth, I was given the middle name of Anne; Danielle didn’t get a middle name for seven years. However, on her seventh birthday, because of her love for Marie, Donny and the Osmonds, her parents allowed her to legally take Marie as her middle name. It’s her personal homage to the performer.

Now, in my opinion, if anyone deserves to go to this historic concert, it’s Danielle. What a wonderful story to share and I’m sure she’d have a chance to get this on tape! (I’ll be watching on the PBS special, Danielle.)

Danielle has promised that she will try her best to go to the live show. I would bet, knowing her the way I do, she will try to make both shows. If she does go to Vegas, I’m hoping to persuade her to give us a report! Where Donny is concerned, what happens in Vegas goes on BellaOnline!

I can’t go. I’m going to have to live through Danielle or wait until next March for the PBS special. But, don’t worry about me, I’m not sad. As much as I would love to go, I’m sort of broke when it comes to the tour budget. See, I have spent my concert dollars for the season – yes, Clay Aiken is on the list, but so is Genesis. It’s just such a great concert season and there are more concerts than I have time or dollars. THE OSMONDS! Who knew?!

If you are planning on going to one of the shows or have an Osmond fan story to share, post it in the Pop Talk forum. You will find the forum link on the right side of the page.

Ticket Information:
The Osmond 50th Anniversary shows on August 13 and 14 will be at The Orleans Hotel Showroom in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information, you can call (702) 284-7777 or visit www.Orleanscasino.com.

Purple Socks Forever! Have a great week!
Chel