Introduction:
It’s a delight to reconnect with Merrill Osmond—now reflecting on an extraordinary life of music, family, and personal triumphs. As he joins us once again, it strikes me: you seem younger each time we meet. He laughs—but I genuinely mean it. Merrill, who began his career at the age of four, has much to share, and he still looks vibrant, poised between the moments of his past and the present chapter of his life.
For more than five decades, Merrill has been performing, recording, and evolving. His latest endeavour—promoting his autobiography titled Black Bear—marks a deeply personal milestone. This isn’t just a celebrity memoir: it’s a raw, honest telling of a story few expected. In our conversation, Merrill disclosed for the first time that as a young child he was sexually abused by a teacher.
This painful memory, which he had buried for years, ultimately found its voice in the pages of his book. He explains that his willingness to be vulnerable allowed thousands of people to step forward and say “thank you.” The act of sharing, he says, became part of his healing.
Merrill also reflects on the interplay between his mental-health struggles and a lineage of anxiety. His father dealt with nerves and worry; Merrill confesses he was never the classic “type A” lead singer. With low self-esteem, three nervous breakdowns, and a suicide attempt behind him, he challenges the notion that success shields you from pain. Fame and fortune often obscure deeper scars. He says: “When people hear I attempted to take my own life after all I’ve had—even the adoration—they say ‘You mean to tell me?’ Yes. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder: nobody talked about those back then.”
The book title is worth noting. “Black Bear” was a nickname given to him by his brother Wayne (“Bear” Merrill) and became code for danger when stalking or death-threats emerged in the Osmond world. He chose it finally as the title of the book because it encapsulates both his public image and the hidden shadows behind it.
We also touch upon the legendary years with The Osmonds, the frenzy, the mania—not hysteria, as Paul McCartney pointed out during their earliest UK tours. Merrill, who started performing at age four, says the pressure and the pace were unlike anything most people can imagine.
Now, while he may have stepped back from full-time performing, he’s not disappeared. He’s here in the UK for some book events, reconnecting with fans, and enjoying life’s quiet pleasures—fishing, camping, cherishing his wife and grandchildren. After 52 years of marriage (a feat in itself), he’s ready for this next chapter: a life shaped by resilience, gratitude, and the love of a family that remained loyal through the years.
In closing, I tell him: you’ve had an astonishing life—and you’re still writing it. He smiles and nods: “Yes, and I’ve been blessed. Where much is given, much is expected. I gave, I got back, and now I’m comfortable with that.” It’s been a pleasure catching up after a couple of years. Here’s to many more stories, and maybe one day, to seeing you sing again. Because if anyone can do it, Merrill Osmond can.