Susanna Reid had a bit of a slip-up during a live chat with pop legend Donny Osmond on Good Morning Britain, prompting the singer to set the record straight. The 54-year-old presenter was discussing the challenges of child stardom with co-host Ed Balls when they welcomed Donny via video link. The music icon was there to chat about his brand-new Las Vegas show, which even features a digital version of his younger self performing alongside him.
The conversation soon shifted to the pressures of growing up in the public eye, with Susanna referencing Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, saying: “Are we propelling people into adulthood too soon? The actor Millie Bobby Brown spoke about how the media won’t let her grow up. You know, she’s sort of frozen—we want people to stay frozen where they were.”
She then brought up a recent comment from songwriter Guy Chambers, who suggested that young people shouldn’t join boy bands until they’re at least 18 to protect them from the industry’s darker side, reported Irish Star.
Wrapping up, Susanna turned to Donny and remarked: “But you’re embracing your 14-year-old self’s experience; you’ve had no experiences that relate to that.” That’s when Donny, ever the gentleman, jumped in with a calm but firm correction: “Well, that’s not quite true. That’s not quite true.”
He went on to explain: “I went through a very difficult time transitioning from a teeny-bopper to an adult entertainer, and for people to accept all of that—it was a very difficult transition.”
Donny reflected on how he managed to overcome those struggles, crediting certain career moments with helping him establish himself as an adult artist. “What happened with me was that I was accepted when ‘Soldier of Love’ came out, when Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat happened, and when I won Dancing with the Stars or Strictly,” he said.
“Those types of shows helped establish me as an adult. So it’s a lot easier to go back and embrace the teeny-bopper career because I was already accepted as an adult.” Donny, of course, has been in the spotlight since he was just five years old, performing with his siblings as part of The Osmonds before breaking out as a solo artist in the 1970s, racking up numerous Top 10 hits.
Despite the awkward moment, the exchange was lighthearted, and Susanna took Donny’s comments in stride. But it was a reminder that even seasoned presenters can sometimes get it a little wrong—and that Donny Osmond, decades into his career, still knows exactly how to handle a live interview with charm and class.
