Marie Osmond pays tribute to late brother Wayne: 'I will miss you so very much'

"Wayne’s death has left another giant hole in my heart," Marie wrote of her brother, who died at 73 on Jan. 1.

Art Streiber/CBS via Getty; C Brandon/Redferns Marie and Wayne Osmond

Art Streiber/CBS via Getty; C Brandon/Redferns

Marie and Wayne Osmond

Marie Osmond is honoring her “loving brother” Wayne after his sudden death at 73 on Jan. 1. 

The “There’s No Stoppin' Your Heart” singer, 65, reflected on the loss of her older brother and the last moments that they spent together in an emotional Instagram post on Wednesday. Alongside her note, Marie also shared a snapshot of the pair smiling with Wayne’s arm around her shoulders. 

“I’ve taken a break from social media for the past 9 months and will continue to do so as I have felt a need to unplug and spend time with family. I’m so grateful that just a few weeks ago, I was able to take a long drive to spend time with my brother Wayne,” Marie began. “I really felt the Spirit compel me to go see him, and I’m so thankful I listened to what I was feeling. I will cherish those hours I spent with him for the rest of my life. I didn’t know that just a few days after my visit, he would have a massive stroke.”

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Ethan Miller/Getty Wayne Osmond

Ethan Miller/Getty

Wayne Osmond

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The actress admitted that she’d refused to issue any statements or conduct any interviews in the week since Wayne’s death because it was “just too hard to put into words.” She continued, “Wayne’s death has left another giant hole in my heart.”

While Marie went on to praise her brother and his storied career as an entertainer, she noted that her favorite moments were “the joy-filled, humorous times I spent laughing with him and our deep intellectual conversations that left me edified in one way or another,” adding, “He was always my safe place to go when I needed advice.”

She also celebrated Wayne’s deep love for his wife, Kathy, and their children, as well as his strong faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. 

“So right now, if I could say anything to him, it would be: ‘Wayne, I could not cherish the gift God gave me more than to be loved by you in this life!’ She wrote. “‘You are a true, loving brother, and I will miss you so very much. I testify eternally of my great love for you with every fiber of my heart and soul! #TillWeMeetAgain.’” 

Marie ended her post by offering her sympathies to those who have similarly lost a loved one. “I know many of you understand these feelings from losing your precious loved ones,” she wrote. “My deepest prayers are with you!”

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Related: Donny Osmond recalls wanting excited fans to 'rip me apart' during Osmond concerts

Melvin Wayne Osmond, a member of the beloved brother band the Osmonds, died on Jan. 1 after suffering a stroke. The brothers grew up making frequent guest appearances on The Andy Williams Show, but rose to superstar status as a pop group following the release of their Billboard chart-topping hit “One Bad Apple” in 1971. The band would continue to play together throughout the years, with Wayne performing one final time in honor of Marie's birthday on The Talk in 2019.

In addition to Marie, Wayne’s brothers Donny, Merrill, and Jay also paid tribute to their brother on social media. 

“My brother was a saint before he came into this world, and he will leave as an even greater saint than he came in," Jay wrote on Instagram. "I've never known a man that had more humility. A man with absolute no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met. His departure from this earth will be a sad moment for some, but for those who are waiting for him on the other side, there will be a massive celebration beyond anything we can imagine." 

Merrill offered a similar sentiment in his own Facebook post, while Donny added on Instagram, "Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone. I'm sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother."

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