Introduction:
Oh my goodness. From the moment I spotted Donnie bounding into the room, shoulder-slung grin and open arms, I knew this was more than a simple greeting—it was the culmination of nearly two decades of friendship. “Donnie, you better get over here, sir. Get in here, man.” The embrace that followed felt like 16 years of shared laughter, growth and silent understanding bundled into one warm moment.
I first met Donnie as a kid—the bright-eyed boy dancing his heart out. Years later, here we stand: me, an expecting father; him, the friend who’s seen me stumble and soar. “I’m making a prediction. It’s going to be a boy… and you name him Donnie. Donnie Derek Huff.” A legacy borrowed, a name embraced, and I can’t help but grin at the idea: DDH. Not bad at all.
Donnie’s biggest residency honours a career that spans nearly sixty years—yes, nearly sixty. From modest beginnings, singing with his brothers in Utah, the sound was pure gold. They took a leap, hit the road, and eventually landed in California. As he puts it: “And it goes on and on and on.” The trajectory of those early days set the tone for the journey ahead.
Later came a fan-favourite segment: the Donnie Rapography. Sixty-five albums? That’s right. Six-five. He jokes: “I was fourteen years old when I had the hit ‘Puppy Love’… So I thought, what if I sang ‘Puppy Love’ with myself 53 years ago? It’s literally my face, my fourteen year-old face, my fourteen year-old voice, and it’s my fourteen year-old grandson’s body.” It’s equal parts nostalgic, futuristic, and undeniably cool.
In January, the fifty-year anniversary of the iconic show with his sister Marie arrives: the unforgettable duo of Donnie & Marie. 
Fans and friends alike will tune in. Meanwhile, the stage lights come up on memory after memory. I recall his time on Dancing with the Stars—the fun, the partnership, the tango. Especially the part where we locked arms. “Yes. That was it.” Driving to the camera, literally turning into the dance. It was late at night, and yet there we were. “Let’s dance. It’s too late.” But we did. That’s the magic of it.
I remember feeling so supported. So safe. And I look back now at that hug, the prediction, the name, the laughter, the sixty-year arc of music and friendship, and I feel gratitude. To Donnie, for the history. To our friendship, for the journey. And to what lies ahead—for a little boy named Donnie Derek Huff, and all the moments yet to be written.