Donny Osmond dines in Vegas and opens up about family relationships
Legendary entertainer joins Phil Rosenthal for soul food and heartfelt conversation on Netflix’s ‘Somebody Feed Phil’
Donny Osmond may have performed in Las Vegas since he was seven years old, but the 67-year-old entertainment icon admits he’s no foodie. That’s why “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal took the legendary singer under his wing during the Las Vegas episode of his hit Netflix series “Somebody Feed Phil,” which premiered as part of the show’s eighth season in June 2025.
The episode, which showcases Las Vegas’s flourishing food scene beyond the casinos and hotels, features Rosenthal dining with Osmond at Gritz Cafe, a soul food restaurant owned by Trina Jiles, Clark County’s first Black female firefighter. The pairing creates an endearing dynamic as Rosenthal attempts to expand the entertainer’s culinary horizons.
“I need you to teach me about food,” Osmond candidly told Rosenthal during their meal, setting the tone for an honest and often humorous conversation about food, family, and five decades in show business.
From sweet potato waffles to family memories
The meal at Gritz Cafe featured classic soul food, starting with a sweet potato waffle with chicken that left Osmond impressed. “That should be illegal,” he exclaimed after taking his first bite of the waffle, clearly surprised by the flavor combination.
The conversation took an interesting turn when Rosenthal brought up the Osmonds’ early recording history in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where the family recorded their debut album. Rosenthal suggested they must have enjoyed authentic Southern cuisine during their studio time.
“They brought food in to us,” Osmond revealed with a laugh. “It was nothing but Kentucky Fried Chicken.”
The singer then shared a memorable story from those recording sessions, recalling how he and his brothers once had to dig through KFC wrappers in a trash can to retrieve a tape their late producer Rick Hall had accidentally thrown away after recording the basic track for their hit song “One Bad Apple.” Hall had realized too late that he’d cut out the wrong part of the recording.
The Osmond family dynamic
The episode provides viewers with glimpses into the complex dynamics of one of America’s most famous musical families. Donny, the seventh of nine children born to George and Olive Osmond in Ogden, Utah, grew up performing alongside his brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay as part of the Osmond Brothers, later known simply as the Osmonds.
His relationship with his siblings has been central to his life and career. The family’s journey began when the four older brothers formed a barbershop quartet, eventually becoming regulars on “The Andy Williams Show” in the 1960s. Donny joined the group when he was just five years old, making his television debut at age six.
“I was the next one in line of four Osmond brothers,” Donny has reflected in past interviews. “I remember writing a letter home to my mother when I was 7 years old, from Sweden. I had spent six weeks over there touring and I just wanted to be home in my sandbox playing with trucks.”
Despite his initial reluctance, Donny embraced the entertainment life when he achieved his first solo hit at age 12. The family’s success continued through the 1970s, with both the group and Donny as a solo artist achieving multiple top-ten hits and gold albums.
Building a Vegas legacy
Osmond’s appearance on “Somebody Feed Phil” comes as he continues his solo residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas, which has earned him recognition as one of the city’s premier headliners. In late 2024, he was voted “Greatest Headliner of Las Vegas,” an honor he discussed with obvious pride.
“Can I just be egotistical right now?” Osmond said about the award. “It just sounds so cool to even say that because of how many artists and acts are in Las Vegas. We put forth so much effort. I have such great dancers, a great band, great crew. We’ve worked so hard on this show.”
His current residency represents the latest chapter in a Vegas relationship that spans six decades. After first performing in the city as a child in the 1960s, Osmond later headlined an 11-year residency with his sister Marie at the Flamingo, which concluded in 2019.
Family first philosophy
Throughout the episode, Osmond’s devotion to family shines through. Despite the enormous success and occasional challenges that come with being part of such a famous clan, he maintains close relationships with his siblings, though keeping track of the extended Osmond family can be challenging.
“Let’s put it like this: When there’s a family reunion, the whole state of Utah comes together,” Osmond joked about the size of his extended family. “That’s how big it is.”
The family faced a significant loss in early 2025 when Donny’s brother Wayne passed away on January 1 from a stroke. “Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me,” Donny shared on social media. “He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone.”
Beyond the meal
The “Somebody Feed Phil” episode captures more than just a meal; it showcases the evolution of Las Vegas’s culinary scene while highlighting the personal side of one of its most enduring entertainers. Rosenthal’s gentle prodding helps reveal a Donny Osmond who, despite decades in the spotlight, maintains a refreshing humility and humor about his place in entertainment history.
The episode also touches on other aspects of Osmond’s varied career, including his surprise appearance in “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “White and Nerdy” music video (Yankovic said Osmond was the first person he thought of who fit the “white and nerdy icon” description), his Tony Award-nominated run in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and his successful stints on reality TV, including winning Season 9 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
As Season 8 of “Somebody Feed Phil” continues to stream on Netflix, the Las Vegas episode stands out not just for its exploration of the city’s diverse food scene, but for the genuine warmth and unexpected revelations that emerge when a curious food lover sits down with a Las Vegas legend who’s still learning to appreciate the finer points of cuisine after all these years.
Image Source: https://www.today.com/video/donny-osmond-on-revolutionary-residency-growing-up-in-spotlight-234304069716
Category: Culture
Subcategory: Entertainment
Date: 07/07/2025
