NEW
YORK - Donny and Marie Osmond will help salute the nation's moms as
co-hosts of an NBC special scheduled for Mother's Day night, the
network and Teleflora, the program's sponsor, have announced.
On ``America's Favorite Mom,'' airing May 11, the Osmonds will crown a
winner chosen online by viewer polling. The program will mark the
holiday's centennial.
``When the concept was first presented to us _ Donny and Marie on a
Mother's Day special _ I thought, `Oh, everybody's gonna need an
insulin shot,''' said Donny during a phone interview with The
Associated Press. ``But we're not just talking about traditional moms.
It shows real moms in real situations, and with some of them, you
think: How do they do it?''
``They're empowering for other women,'' sister Marie added. ``They
inspire other mothers to say, `I'm not alone. I can get through this,
too.'''
Nominations are being accepted through April 25 in the categories of single moms, working moms, stay-at-home moms, unconventional moms and military moms.
The 15 semifinalists will be profiled on NBC's ``Today'' show the week before Mother's Day, enabling the audience to choose the most deserving. The winner will get cash and prizes valued at ``thousands of dollars,'' Teleflora said.
Donny and Marie, who since childhood have sung professionally both with and without their large family, recall early Mother's Day observances as somewhat nontraditional.
``We were touring,'' Donny said.
``It was the NON-holidays when we got to celebrate things,'' Marie agreed. ``But mama was always honored in our home.''
Besides their co-hosting duties on the special, Donny and Marie will do a musical number.
``Marie picked out the song,'' Donny said.
``It was a mutual decision,'' she argued.
So what's the song going to be?
``I don't know,'' Marie teased.
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