Alan Osmond, the eldest performing member of the legendary Osmond Brothers and the quiet architect behind one of America’s most beloved family entertainment dynasties, died on Monday at his home in Lehi, Utah. He was 76.

His wife, Suzanne, and their eight sons surrounded him as he passed, ending a four-decade battle with multiple sclerosis that never diminished his faith or his influence on American music.

Born June 22, 1949, in Ogden, Utah, Alan was the third child of George and Olive Osmond but the oldest of those who would take the stage. What began in 1958 as a barbershop quartet with brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay evolved into a phenomenon that would redefine family entertainment and produce nine gold records in 1971 alone — surpassing single-year bests by Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

The family’s musical journey started with a simple purpose: raising money for hearing aids for older brothers Virl and Tom. From Utah’s state fair circuit to a fateful visit to Disneyland that led to their 1962 television debut on “Disney After Dark,” the Osmonds built their success on relentless work ethic and unshakeable family bonds. By the time they became regulars on The Andy Williams Show, they had forged the wholesome, peppy image that would define them for generations.

Child labor laws shaped their legendary professionalism. Dubbed the “One Take Osmonds,” the group perfected their craft under strict time constraints. “We could only work so many hours a day, so we’d take the work home and make sure we nailed it on the first take,” Alan once recalled.

As a songwriter, Alan helped pen some of the group’s biggest hits, including “One Bad Apple,” “Crazy Horses” and “Are You Up There?” His creative vision extended beyond performing; he became a principal producer on ABC’s hit television show “The Donny and Marie Show” in the mid-to-late 1970s, showcasing his younger siblings’ talents.

When the original Osmond Brothers returned to the stage in 1982 as a country group, they found success with songs including “I Think About Your Lovin.'” The shift to country music was deliberate. “Country music really is the backbone of America,” Alan told the Associated Press. “It doesn’t just come and go. And we’re kind of flag-wavers. You find that in the country area, too.”

Throughout their rise, faith remained central. The family never hesitated to share their beliefs from the stage, regardless of venue or audience. Alan married Suzanne Pinegar in 1974, and together they built both a family and a Utah institution. In 1980, Alan and Merrill founded the Stadium of Fire in Provo, which has grown into one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in the country. The couple was honored as Pillars of Utah Valley in 2021.

The diagnosis came in 1987. On stage, Alan couldn’t raise his right hand. Multiple sclerosis forced him to retire from performing with his family, but he refused to let the disease define him. “I was on stage and couldn’t raise my right hand. I trusted my Heavenly Father,” he reflected. “You have to have opposition in life — this was my test.”

In his final week, Alan spent time in intensive care before returning home on Thursday on hospice. He had been using a wheelchair prior to his death. His brother Merrill visited him two days before he died. “We talked as brothers do, heart to heart,” Merrill wrote on social media. “He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle … and then he smiled.”

Donny Osmond, who became the breakout star during the group’s early 1970s peak, called Alan “my protector and guide, the one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine.”

The Osmond family expanded beyond the original quartet to include Donny, Marie and Jimmy, but Alan remained the foundation. His loss comes just over a year after brother Wayne died at 73 following a stroke in January 2024, marking another chapter’s end for a family that brought joy to millions while never compromising their values.

Alan is survived by his wife, Suzanne; eight sons — Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex and Tyler; 30 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers Virl, Tom, Merrill, Jay, Donny and Jimmy; and sister Marie. Service plans are forthcoming.

For millions of fans worldwide, Alan Osmond’s legacy transcends entertainment. He proved that talent, faith and family could coexist at the highest levels of show business — and that opposition, even in the form of a degenerative disease, couldn’t silence the music or the message.