The Osmonds appear on the Oprah Winfrey show

More than 100 members of the Osmond family joined Oprah Winfrey on her US chat show - for an episode that aired on the day of George Osmond's funeral.

The family decided to go ahead with the show and traveled to Chicago for filming just 48 hours after their patriarch passed away.

Marie and Donny Osmond gave emotional tributes to their Dad, and all nine children honoured him with a song at the end of the show.

George Osmond died of natural causes at the age of 90, at his home in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday.
The widower had been looking forward to joining his family for their appearance on Oprah - but died just two days before filming.

"We talked about it and decided that our father would want us all to be here," Marie explained. "He loved his family."

Marie, 48, said her dad had died peacefully and was now reunited with her mother Olive in heaven.

"He took a shower, he got dressed, he sat on his bed, he lay down with a smile and he passed away," she said.

"He wanted to dance with my Mom. I know they're here."

When Oprah mentioned that her Mum had passed away on Mother's Day, Marie joked: "He didn't want to be outdone. He wanted to be talked about on Oprah."

Donny said the family were grateful to Oprah for doing the special show and said it was a fitting way to remember his father.

"Obviously we're very sad of the loss, but we celebrate his life - we celebrate our parents' life," he told the chat show host.

"What an example they were to all of us. What a great couple - what a great relationship should be like.

"They didn't just talk the talk, they walked the walk."

He continued: "It's a very emotional time for the family right now, so thank you for doing this for us.

"It means a lot - not just to us, but to our brothers and our parents."

"This is a rare moment," Marie added.

"We won't always have everybody. There will be a few that have to work or whatever.

"This kind of opportunity is a once in a lifetime."

Donny said all the Osmond children believed they would one day be reunited with their parents.

"I'm sure they're looking down on us right now because we believe we are an eternal family," he said.

"We know that we will be with our parents again. We don't just believe it, we know it."

Marie added: "There's a warmth in your heart. When the spirit speaks you know."

Oprah played archive footage of the Osmonds performing on stage, deafened by the screams of hundreds of young girls.

Donny said the attention had been hard to deal with at such a tender age.

"There was so much adulation, but I was very lonely," he confessed.

"You saw those concerts. You go to a very silent hotel room and being the Mormon that I am, I didn't have any pre-marital sex or anything like that. That was out of the question."

He added: "I had to date my wife secretly. My wife dated my brother Jay for a while, and then I kind of stole her from him."

George Osmond was buried next to his wife at the Eastlawn Cemetery in Provo, Utah.

More than 400 friends and family members attended a two-hour long service.