A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ’N Roll”: The Heart of Donny & Marie’s Variety Show

Released as the theme for their 1976–79 ABC variety show, The Donny & Marie Show, “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ’N Roll” became emblematic of Donny and Marie Osmond’s musical versatility.
Each episode featured a playful segment where Marie would croon a country number—“I’m a little bit country”—followed by Donny’s rock turn—“a little bit rock and roll”

A Little Bit Country-a Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll

TV Staple: The song served as the recurring Concert Spot opener on The Donny & Marie Show (ABC, 1976–79), framing their signature sibling performance format.

Catchy Call-and-Response: The famous duet lyric—“I’m a little bit country…”—became a catchphrase for the show, often prompting viewers to sing along

Fan Reactions Vary: While many loved its wholesome vibe, the performance received mixed reviews—some viewers recalled it jokingly with comments like “It was like Lawrence Welk trying to be the Beatles”

Sibling Success: Donny & Marie were just 18 and 16 years old when their show premiered, making them the youngest duo to host a network variety show in U.S. television history

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