Donny Osmond Shares the Best Piece of Advice Elvis Presley Gave Him: 'Came from the King' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Donny Osmond, Elvis Presley.Photo:Mindy Small/Getty; Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Mindy Small/Getty; Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Donny Osmondis looking back at a piece of advice from the King of Rock and Roll that he still holds close.The 67-year-old multi-hyphenate, who recently made his return to the stage as part ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,caught up with PEOPLE about a lesson he learned from the lateElvis Presleyback in the day.While speaking on his own relationship with social media in 2024 — “Can you imagine what I could have done with social media and the ‘Puppy Love’ days?” — Osmond explained that he “really enjoys” engaging with his supporters.“But more importantly than that, 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,’ " Osmond says.“I was 14 at the time when he said that. And it really, really influenced me that a guy this big, you know, the King of Rock and Roll, says he wishes he could get closer to his fans ‘cause he was so isolated. That’s one of the reasons why I do it, because that came from the King.“Donny Osmond in 1970.Michael Ochs Archives/GettyOsmond has previously opened up about his history of encounters with Presley before the music icon’s 1977 death at the age of 42. Back in 2017, he revealed onLorrainethat the fellow performer was the “nicest guy” and reminded him of the importance of being a “real person.“As he tells PEOPLE, his fanbase has only expanded since those days, with the “demographics” having “literally grown” thanks to his various projects over the years.“I see a lot of young people discovering who I am because of YouTube and social media and all that kind of stuff. But also the things that I’ve done, when they discovered that I’m the voice of Captain Shang inMulan. I mean, when we do that whole production number in Las Vegas, some of the faces I see [are] like, ‘Surprise.’ Like, ‘I didn’t know that was you!’ ““I see the stage door every night as I walk out, I see little kids with their moms and people in their 30s and 20s that said, ‘I’ve been watching this all my life.’ “Donny Osmond performs at Fox & Friends All-American Summer Concert Series on July 12, 2024.John Nacion/GettyThe musician’s most recent endeavor saw him return toAndrew Lloyd Webberand Tim Rice’sJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoatmore than 30 years after he initially captivated audiences as the show’s titular character. This time, he was back as the villainous role of Pharaoh throughDec. 29 at the Edinburgh Playhousein Scotland.“Opening night it was like, ‘What is this going to be like?’ And as soon as they set me down on the chair on stage and the lights came up, the applause and ovation … it was absolutely amazing,” he told PEOPLE. “And then when Joseph comes out and [‘Poor Poor Joseph’] began, I looked at the audience and I said, ‘Déjà vu!’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On Feb. 11, he’ll also be returning to Las Vegas at Harrah’s Showroom for his first-ever solo residency in the city. The “extremely high-tech” show will have audiences saying “I’ve gotta see this,” Osmond says.“I’ve always said if I can’t give a hundred percent on stage like I do every night in Las Vegas or what I’m doing out here, if I can’t come up to that bar that I’ve set for myself, that’s the time to stop,” he added.“I’m just having the time of my life on stage.”

Donny Osmondis looking back at a piece of advice from the King of Rock and Roll that he still holds close.

The 67-year-old multi-hyphenate, who recently made his return to the stage as part ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,caught up with PEOPLE about a lesson he learned from the lateElvis Presleyback in the day.

While speaking on his own relationship with social media in 2024 — “Can you imagine what I could have done with social media and the ‘Puppy Love’ days?” — Osmond explained that he “really enjoys” engaging with his supporters.

“But more importantly than that, 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,’ " Osmond says.

“I was 14 at the time when he said that. And it really, really influenced me that a guy this big, you know, the King of Rock and Roll, says he wishes he could get closer to his fans ‘cause he was so isolated. That’s one of the reasons why I do it, because that came from the King.”

Donny Osmond in 1970.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Osmond has previously opened up about his history of encounters with Presley before the music icon’s 1977 death at the age of 42. Back in 2017, he revealed onLorrainethat the fellow performer was the “nicest guy” and reminded him of the importance of being a “real person.”

As he tells PEOPLE, his fanbase has only expanded since those days, with the “demographics” having “literally grown” thanks to his various projects over the years.

“I see a lot of young people discovering who I am because of YouTube and social media and all that kind of stuff. But also the things that I’ve done, when they discovered that I’m the voice of Captain Shang inMulan. I mean, when we do that whole production number in Las Vegas, some of the faces I see [are] like, ‘Surprise.’ Like, ‘I didn’t know that was you!’ "

“I see the stage door every night as I walk out, I see little kids with their moms and people in their 30s and 20s that said, ‘I’ve been watching this all my life.’ "

Donny Osmond performs at Fox & Friends All-American Summer Concert Series on July 12, 2024.John Nacion/Getty

John Nacion/Getty

The musician’s most recent endeavor saw him return toAndrew Lloyd Webberand Tim Rice’sJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoatmore than 30 years after he initially captivated audiences as the show’s titular character. This time, he was back as the villainous role of Pharaoh throughDec. 29 at the Edinburgh Playhousein Scotland.

“Opening night it was like, ‘What is this going to be like?’ And as soon as they set me down on the chair on stage and the lights came up, the applause and ovation … it was absolutely amazing,” he told PEOPLE. “And then when Joseph comes out and [‘Poor Poor Joseph’] began, I looked at the audience and I said, ‘Déjà vu!’ "

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Feb. 11, he’ll also be returning to Las Vegas at Harrah’s Showroom for his first-ever solo residency in the city. The “extremely high-tech” show will have audiences saying “I’ve gotta see this,” Osmond says.

“I’ve always said if I can’t give a hundred percent on stage like I do every night in Las Vegas or what I’m doing out here, if I can’t come up to that bar that I’ve set for myself, that’s the time to stop,” he added.

“I’m just having the time of my life on stage.”

source: people.com