Donny Osmond has been a cherished figure in entertainment for nearly six decades. From his early days as a child star to his status as a music icon, his career has seen incredible triumphs and challenging lows—but through it all, one constant has been his wife, Debbie. Their love story is a testament to true commitment, resilience, and unwavering support.

Donny first met Debbie when he was just 16 and she was a 15-year-old cheerleader. Concerned about how the public—and his devoted fanbase—would react, he kept their relationship a secret for more than three years. “I dated her secretly because I didn’t want Tiger Beat [magazine] to find out,” he later revealed. When their relationship finally became public, some fans reacted harshly, burning his records and sending cruel letters to Debbie.

Despite the backlash and the subsequent decline in his career, Debbie remained steadfastly by his side. Donny has often credited her with saving his life. “There was something simple about her, and I lived a very complicated life,” he told PEOPLE. Through his darkest moments, she was his anchor, offering stability and reassurance when the world seemed to crumble around him.