Susanna Reid experienced a slight on-air misstep when she was corrected by music icon Donny Osmond

during a conversation about the challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry.

The Good Morning Britain host was discussing the struggles child stars often face but was quickly put right by Donny, who clarified his own experiences in the spotlight.

Susanna Reid’s On-Air Blunder

During Thursday’s (March 6) edition of Good Morning Britain, Susanna Reid, 54, was back at the presenting desk alongside Ed Balls.

The pair tackled the day’s biggest headlines before engaging in a virtual interview with Donny Osmond, who joined the show via video link from Las Vegas.

Donny was on the program to discuss his ongoing Las Vegas residency, where he performs using AI technology to sing alongside a virtual version of his 14-year-old self.

However, the interview took an unexpected turn when the conversation shifted to the difficulties faced by child stars growing up in the limelight.

Susanna introduced the topic by questioning whether young celebrities were being pushed into adulthood too soon, citing actress Millie Bobby Brown as an example.

“Are we propelling people into adulthood too soon? Millie Bobby Brown spoke about how the media won’t let her grow up,” Susanna said. “You know, she’s sort of frozen in time, and we want people to stay as they were.”

She then added, “A lot of people have had bad experiences! Guy Chambers said that people shouldn’t join boy bands until they’re 18 as a way to protect them. But you’re embracing your 14-year-old self’s experience; you’ve had no experiences that relate to that.”

Donny Osmond Corrects Susanna

At this point, Donny interrupted, gently correcting Susanna’s assumption about his past.

“Well, that’s not quite true. That’s not quite true,” he said.

The legendary singer explained that he, in fact, did struggle with the transition from being a teenage heartthrob to an adult performer.

“I went through a very difficult time transitioning from a teeny-bopper to an adult entertainer,” Donny admitted. “Getting people to accept that change was very difficult.”

Despite these struggles, Donny credited key moments in his career for helping him establish himself outside of his boyhood fame.

“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 and Strictly Come Dancing.”

Donny went on to explain that once he had successfully transitioned into a respected adult performer, it became easier to reflect on his early career with pride.

“Those types of shows helped to establish me as an adult. It’s a lot easier to go back and embrace the teeny-bopper career because I was already accepted as an adult,” he added.

Donny Osmond’s Rise to Fame

Donny Osmond first found fame at just five years old, performing alongside his older brothers as part of The Osmonds. The group enjoyed enormous success, landing multiple top 10 hits and gold albums throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

By the early 1970s, Donny had launched a solo career, earning several additional top 10 hits, further cementing his status as a global teen idol. However, as he revealed in his Good Morning Britain interview, the transition from a boyband member to an adult musician was far from easy.

In the late 1980s, Donny made a comeback with his single Soldier of Love, which became a surprise hit. He later found further success on Broadway as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and won over new audiences through reality competition shows like Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing.

A Lesson in Showbiz Longevity

Donny Osmond’s correction of Susanna Reid’s comment highlights the complexity of growing up in the public eye. While some child stars face unbearable struggles, Donny’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and long-term success.

His ability to adapt to the ever-changing entertainment industry has allowed him to remain relevant and celebrate his past, while also continuing to evolve as a performer.

For Susanna, the moment served as a valuable insight into the realities of fame—proving that while some stars struggle with their early experiences, others, like Donny Osmond, find a way to embrace both their past and present with pride.