Donny Osmond uses AI to recreate his teenage self for live shows

Some stars spend their careers defending the version of themselves that first made them famous. Donny Osmond took the opposite path. He built a career that evolved with the times, and continued to move forward.

Today, during his Las Vegas residency at Harrah’s, the legendary entertainer will perform the same duet with a digital version of his 14-year-old self, Donnie, the teenager who won hearts with hits like “Puppy Love” decades ago.

This moment feels almost surreal on stage. But it also reflects something deeper about Osmond’s career. Instead of resisting technology or relying solely on nostalgia, he embraced new tools that allowed him to reinterpret his history in front of a live audience. His willingness to experiment with technology has helped him remain a presence in the entertainment world for over 60 years.

Sign up for the free CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — it’s free when you join me Cyberguy.COM Newsletter.

Stop the Insanity 2.0: 90s icon Susan Powerter’s technology returns

Why Donny Osmond still connects with audiences

There’s a reason Donny Osmond remains relevant to multiple generations. Older fans know the teen idol who broke out with songs like “Puppy Love.” Some people know him from “Donny & Marie.” Theater fans will remember “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Younger audiences may know him as the singing voice of Captain Shang in the Disney film Mulan. And then there are the reality TV fans who saw him win on “Dancing with the Stars” or reunite with him on “The Masked Singer.”

That range gives him something unusual in entertainment. He does not belong to one era. He belongs to several groups. And instead of resisting it, he leans into it. Now, technology is also playing a role in this relationship.

How Donny Osmond brought his younger self back to the stage

Osmond explained this idea to me when he spoke to me on my “Beyond Connected” podcast. The concept actually started decades ago when he started imagining what would be possible with future technology.

“Ever since I was a teenager, I knew that someday there would be technology that would allow John Wayne to become Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I was right,” Osmond said.

This long-held fascination finally led him to ask a simple question.

“Why can’t I sing ‘Puppy Love’ with my 14-year-old self on stage?” Osmond wondered. The answer was to combine several forms of digital production, AI modeling, and stage design.

Osmond said, “The face is my 14-year-old face taken from an actual photo, the voice is my voice from an interview when I was 14, and the body is my 14-year-old grandson.” The result is a performance that looks like two versions of Donny Osmond sharing the stage at the same time.

It’s not a hologram. it’s called a hollow box

Many people believe that young Donnie is a hologram. Osmond said otherwise.

“It’s not a projection like a laser projection. It’s not like a hologram. It’s a completely different technology,” Osmond explained.

Instead, the illusion relies on a piece of stage technology known as a hollow box. This structure is built into the set and is designed to look like a vintage recording booth on stage. Inside that space, a sophisticated visual system combines CGI, AI modeling, and stage lighting to create a digital image of a younger Donnie, displayed at full size and in three dimensions.

The effect blends archival photos, computer-generated animation, and audio samples from Osmond’s early interviews to recreate his teenage appearance. His grandson provides the body movements used to animate the performance. Osmond stands just inches away from the illusion and can see his younger self directly as he sings. From the audience’s perspective, it appears as if the two performers are sharing the stage face-to-face in real time.

Osmond said that even after performing the sequence night after night, he was still amazed by the experience.

“I do it every night and it never gets old. It’s like looking in the mirror from 54 years ago,” Osmond said. For longtime fans, this moment connects a memorable teen star with today’s veteran performer. The visual contrast tells the story of a career that spans generations.

Inside Microsoft’s AI Content Validation Plan

Donny Osmond has always been fascinated by technology

What struck me most about my conversation with Donny was that he didn’t sound like a celebrity dragged into modern technology. He sounds like a kid who wanted to be put in a maker’s lab.

“Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve been kind of a geek, or nerd, when it comes to technical things,” Osmond said.

That curiosity still drives him today. He studies the tools behind stage production and experiments with new ways to keep the show fresh. In many ways, technology has become a new creative outlet.

Donny Osmond’s favorite apps may surprise you

When we asked Donnie what apps he uses most, his answer revealed another side of the performer.

“I would have to say Google Sheets because we created the algorithm,” Osmond said.

He enjoys creating detailed spreadsheets and analyzing data. His cell phone of choice is a foldable device that can easily display large spreadsheets. Osmond also employs connected security technology. He said he uses cameras and smart alarm systems to monitor his home, locker rooms and other facilities to stay aware of what’s going on around him.

For someone known around the world as a singer and performer, it’s an unexpectedly technical hobby.

Donny Osmond sees both the promise and risks of AI

Artificial intelligence is sparking debate across music, film, and media. Some artists worry about their voice or likeness being misused or losing control. Osmond takes a balanced view.

“Any technology, in the wrong hands, can lead to heinous acts,” Osmond said. “But I also want you to focus on the good it can do.”

From medicine to entertainment, he believes AI has the potential to bring great advances.

Osmond said, “What a great time to be living in today with technology. It’s great to see everything happening in real time.” At the same time, he believes that society must continue to engage with technological advances rather than fear them.

“If we run away from technology, other countries and other people will be far ahead of us,” Osmond said.

Speaking of technology, Osmond says his music may already have reached space. During our conversation, he told me that one of his songs was reportedly used to test the sound system of a spacecraft capsule.

“They actually used my song ‘Start Again’ from my latest album to test the sound system on one of the capsules,” Osmond said.

Then he told another story he had heard many times over the years.

“When they went to the moon with the Apollo mission, which by the way we went to the moon, they took a tape of music with them. It had Andy Williams singing ‘Aquarius.’ I sing background vocals on that song. They left a tape on the moon. My voice is sitting on the moon.”

Apple powers Apple intelligence with Google Gemini

Social media would have changed the early Donny Osmond era

Osmond also reflected on how today’s digital platforms changed his early career.

“Can you imagine what I could have done with social media in the days of ‘Puppy Love’?” Osmond said.

At the height of his fame as a teen idol, fans lined up outside television studios and concerts to catch a glimpse of him. Today, such connections often occur through social platforms and digital communities. This is another example of how technology has reshaped the entertainment industry.

An ever-evolving career

Donny Osmond first rose to fame performing with his brothers as part of the Osmonds. The family group was a television sensation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, appearing on shows such as “The Andy Williams Show.” Soon after, his younger sister Marie came into the limelight and the two rose to fame on the hit variety series Donny & Marie. Decades later, the brothers reunited and had a highly successful Las Vegas residency that lasted more than a decade.

Over the years, Osmond has released dozens of albums, appeared on television shows, performed on Broadway, and built a long career in Las Vegas. He is currently headlining his own residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas, performing several nights a week. The show has been extended until May 2026, a testament to its continued popularity with viewers. Today, many young fans are discovering Osmond through social media clips, streaming platforms, and live performances in Las Vegas.

Now, technology is also playing a role in how he connects with his fans. Osmond stays connected with fans through the Donny app (donnyosmondapp.com) is your one-stop destination for news, videos, tour updates, and a timeline of his career. Fans can also find tickets, show information and updates at: donny.comthe official website he referenced during the interview. The Osmonds continue to reach fans across generations while pushing the show into new territory by blending nostalgia with modern technology.

Take our quiz: How secure is your online security?

Do you think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to find out where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, it breaks down what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my quiz here: cyberguy.com.

Cart important points

Donny Osmond’s career proves that curiosity can keep an artist moving forward. Rather than resisting change, he continues to explore the technologies that are shaping today’s world. From AI stage performances to data-driven apps and smart home systems, Osmond approaches technology with the same enthusiasm as performance. Be sure to tune in or listen to our Beyond Connected conversation with Donny Osmond to hear more about how we’re merging entertainment and technology.

If you could meet a younger version of yourself using AI, what would you ask? cyberguy.com.

Click here to download the FOX News app

Sign up for the free CyberGuy Report

Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — it’s free when you join me Cyberguy.COM Newsletter.

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.