respites, you know, just little breathers. and, you know, he's my baby. >> donny, he gives great advice to justin bieber on life after being a teen idol superstar. if i was justin bieber, what would you say? >> put the seat belt on, buddy because it's a bumpy ride. >> and the pair of them also explain how they look so damn good after 40 years in the business. you missed one dose of botox? >> oh, yeah, i tried it. >> this is a "primetime" exclusive. "piers morgan tonight." marie -- >> it's donny and marie. >> knew. >> i just want to say welcome to the flamingo. >> i love this. >> do you know when you call the hotel, that's what they say, welcome to the flamingo, home of donny and marie. >> it's so great for you guys to have your own very classy old-style theater in vegas. your name in lights on the strip. i walked down this morning, there you are on huge billboards. it must give you a buzz. >> it's an ego builder, let me tell you. if you feel bad about yourself, just drive down and see the biggest billboard. >> did you ever imagine here you'd be 40 years later doing this in vegas? >> no, i mean, you think about a career. and especially being a woman in the entertainment business, you're lucky to get seven, eight years and we're going on what -- >> 48 years. >> 48 years now. >> incredible. >> and it's consistent, too. even in the show, i say, how grateful can i be. i know we're both so grateful. we always knew we would do something together again. >> if i spend 48 hours with my sister, bottles could start being thrown in my direction. >> i'm telling you, bottles are thrown. >> i've heard that about you. >> it wouldn't be by me. >> come on, let's call it the way it is. we do rub each other wrong every once and a while. that's what works for donny and marie on stage. everybody can relate to it who has a sibling, but there's something about this relationship that would on stage. >> you say it's almost unique, i'd say, in show business, your relationship, a brother and sister, who have been doing what you're doing for so long who still like each other. >> well, let's don't push it. >> well, you know, there is a different relationship as we have matured. definitely, it's not 14 and 16 years old anymore. but there's a mutual respect. and it's nice to be out there with somebody who they can tell if something's not working they're there to cover each other. whatever it is. >> it just happened the other night. marie was under the weather and i filled in for her. just a couple weeks prior to that the reverse thing happened. i was really feeling bad. and she pulled it off. >> do you think you can completely trust each other? >> yes. >> in the way of whoever else you work with? >> you see, that's the thing about us, people say what keeps you going? why are you still in the business after these many years? our father taught us such a work ethic if there's something worth doing, it's worth doing well. when we hit the stage, piers, when we started this thing, we got so much ridicule and comments about oh, you're spending too much money. too many lights. the set, the orchestra, the multimedia. you're only here six weeks. marie and i stuck to our guns, we said is this going to be a great show. >> you have to remember, we did our own things for many years. this is like the first time we've worked together. >> in a long, long time. >> it's almost like, i'll use the analogy of a happy meal. >> there are some others around but that old school ethic of doing these kind of shows, when you see the young performers today, it seems to me they don't have that same ethic. >> you know, i'll tell what you i feel, i feel very blessed that i got to grow up working with, you know, sammy davis jr. and dean martin with elvis presley. i mean, we worked with -- >> sinatra. >> absolutely. yeah. >> to learn, to watch, to literally -- not just watch them, but to work with them. >> work with them. >> what did you learn from the greats? what made them great? what's the thing that takes you to that level? >> i don't know if i speak on behalf of marie, when we put this show together, you could throw as much money as you want at a show, people don't walk out humming the lights or say it's the greatest costumes in the world. >> it's important. >> but you got to walk out saying i know more about donny and marie. producers miss -- they leave out the heart and soul. that's what i learned from sammy davis jr. from frank sinatra. when you went to see the shows, you got to know them. when people came to seat show -- what are you laughing at? >> we did qvc the other day -- >> don't go into that. >> i heard about it. >> not only that, he did leave his fly down. >> to sell a record -- >> not only that, just to continue what you were saying, we walk out, immediately he grabs something that somebody is selling and he starts modeling it. the producer cuts to the still shot of the product. i thought, boy, that is so not what i learned in television. to catch those live moments and to see him modeling a dress, that's television. you know -- but today, it's like, it's not on the script. >> thank you for telling the world that i modeled a dress. >> no, but it wasn't on the script so they panic, you know. >> who of all the greats that played in vegas would you motion like to have seen. >> we did. we saw them all. >> i remember going to the hilton -- >> that's amazing to me. >> you name a name. >> sinatra? >> yes. >> sammy davis? >> yes. >> dean martin? >> yes. >> elvis? >> yes, lucille ball, john wayne. it's crazy. it's nuts. >> i went to see elvis presley, his last show, his closing night show at the hilton and we were hoping up the next night. i remember watching the king on stage. he could do no wrong. the audience was in the palm of his hand. the next night oh was in my dressing room with my brothers, and the door opens and it's "hi, i'm elvis presley. i thought, how cool is that, the king of rock 'n' roll walks to the door and is just a real person. it taught me about leaving the on stage. they're a real person. >> what else made those guys? >> they worked. >> i think they didn't look at it as being a celebrity. they looked at it as being an entertainer. it was their job. and it was every day, how do i be better? how do i get -- i mean, they love that audience. we love our audiences. we want them feeling that you know what it's an expensive ticket. it's not as expensive as some of them here, when they leave, they got their money's worth. they had an experience. they had something that brought them back to some kind of memory. whether it was way back to the donny and marie original shows or currently like "dancing with the stars" or whatever. they walk away feel they go got to know us better. >> here's another thing, piers, sometimes, i feel like entertainers, young entertainers that jump in the business get -- >> wait a minute, we're young. >> you actually look ridiculously young. >> so many people feel entitled. i'm on stage, you need to like me. well, yeah, there's that attitude of confidence on stage. but they forget about getting out there and working and doing all of those little gigs, 366 days a year. and going through the work. going through the motions. >> being a proper star, really from what you're saying, look out to an audience and making them feel as important as they're making feel? >> absolutely. >> it doesn't seem like that. >> i remember milton berle, the first time i worked with him. he came on and took a script and said, no, this won't work. he worked to make that silly three-minute sketch brilliant. he worked with the writers. it was a constant effort by the people, we've got to work with, to make everything the best it could be, even if it was a stupid sketch, which usually it was on our show. >> do you remember what groucho marx did to you? >> yeah. >> dirty old man. >> pinched my butt. >> pinched marie's butt the whole time. >> do you know how many people -- >> groucho used to say you're only as old as the woman you feel. >> that's groucho. >> that's perfect. >> why have been 14 1/2 or 15. which would have been illegal. >> good old groucho. >> what was john wayne like? >> john wayne was a very stoic man. >> tall, so sweet. >> he talked like this really. >> he was john wayne. >> you do a lot of impressions. >> thank you, kid. >> please don't encourage him. when we come back, we'll get to the nitty-gritty, you got married. >> thank you. >> i got married 33 years ago. >> you just got remarried to your ex-husband. >> my first husband. >> unbelievable. we'll be right back. ♪ [ male announcer ] in 2011, at&t is at work, building up our wireless network all across america. we're adding new cell sites... increasing network capacity, and investing billions of dollars to improve your wireless network experience. from a single phone call to the most advanced data download, we're covering more people in more places than ever before in an effort to give you the best network possible. at&t. rethink possible. hey! a crackling fire on such a frosty day. >> sir, you cannot imagine how glad i am to see you. [ laughter ] >> i smell smoke! >> donny and marie, we're talking about vegas, it's great to be there. and it's exciting. the most exciting thing to happen in vegas is you got married. >> that's the most exciting thing? >> well, because you got married to a guy you married before. >> it was the most exciting thing for me in my life. >> tell me how did this happen. >> well -- >> you got married how long ago? >> it's been 29 years. >> 29 years ago. >> see, i'll forever be 29. >> 29 years ago, you marry this guy, and the marriage only lasts three years. >> uh-huh. >> and you get divorced. why did you split up then? what was wrong then? >> you know, piers, i think too young. the world was watching us under a microscope. just a lot of things went into play. but, you know, you move on. your heart's broken. we have a child together. and, you know, looking back, it is what it is. the thing that i find fascinating about now is that, you know, he's so sweet. and he still is the core of who i fell in love with. >> you remarried, but he never did, is that right? >> no, he never remarried, no. >> because he never remarried, did you, in the back of your mind, ever think i wonder if one day -- >> i really did not. no. there was no -- we would ever get -- i mean, really, do you really think that way? no. but, really, it was our son who i was moving here. you know, dad, mom needs some help moving. we've always kind of known each other and been am applicable and friendly. but it wasn't until two years ago and thought, let's give this a shot. >> that was after you'd split up -- >> oh, yeah, i'd been divorced almost six years. >> so you were a single woman, he was a single guy. circumstance of vegas, what goes on in vegas -- >> stays in vegas. >> -- stayed in vegas. >> no, it was just we didn't really want anybody to know we were dating because if it didn't work out, that hurts children. i really was set on being single. >> did your son know that you were dating? >> no. >> how long did you keep it from him? >> when we told him we were getting married. >> can i just interject a thought, i thought the most beautiful part of that wedding was the fact that stephen, their son, was one of the witnesses to that marriage. it was the culminating -- it was beautiful. it's a cinderella story with a lot of bumps in the road with a beautiful ending. >> it is completely that. wonderful for you after all you've been through. what i find extraordinary is that you're dating your son's dad. >> yeah. >> and he doesn't know. what do you say when you told him? >> well, can you imagine if it didn't work out? that would be a double hurt. >> and your son is nearly 30 now? >> he's 28. >> don't make me any older than i am? >> what was your reaction? >> i thought it was fantastic. >> he was the first person i've told. >> i've had this familial relationship with steve. i've loved the guy. he was a great brother-in-law. it hurt me for my sister but hurt me to see them fall apart. >> for any brother, when you see a sister have her heartbroken as you say you did the first time when the marriage fell apart, doesn't part of you feel that protective thing, i hope that doesn't happen again? >> let's go one step further, it's always been uncomfortable at least for me, that i had the very successful marriage for 33 years and she didn't. because we've always shared our careers and everything together. it's always been very difficult for me. when i saw that kind of getting emotional about this, when i saw them come back together, it was a great moment. >> it is emotional, it's a remarkable story. >> the best is when we were kneeling across the altar, when we were married in vegas, not by elvis -- >> it wasn't a drive-through chapel. >> they ask the man first, and he said first. our eyes were teary-eyed. it was beautiful. i saw our son sitting there and he was smiling. it was my turn to say it next. all of a sudden, this look on his little face kind of like, mom, you better say yes. and then i said, yes. his little face just beamed. >> it was beautiful. >> what was the moment for you when you thought i want to be back with this guy? was there a moment? >> you know, the only thing i can say is when it's right, it's really right. and there's not one piece of doubt in me that we weren't always right. it's just that we're smarter now. >> do you think the reason that -- >> even more incredibly, you wore the same dress that you wore when you first married him. >> yeah, i had designed this beautiful dress. my daughter rachel helped me design it. she designs my clothes in the show. but it showed up five days before the wedding in pieces. it was crazy. and four days, five days before, i got my dress, i found out out in my garage, a box with my original wedding dress. piers, i didn't even know i had it still. i took it down i was having it dry cleaned and put away because it had been opened. immediately i started crying because this dress was a mess the one i designed. the lady who was helping me said, "where's that dress?" i said it's at the dry cleaners. i called them up and said, have you started cleaning it yet? i need it back. and i put it on and it fit. >> you're the same size exactly as you were 26, 27 years ago? >> i had to let it out just a tiny bit right across my upper back. just like that much. >> there are women going i wish i could get in there. >> it was a waist cinch belt i was so happy. >> what did you think, donny, when you saw her in that dress? >> i have a picture up in my dressing room. they gave me of the picture. >> you got it? >> i started crying. there's my sister in the original wedding dress. it's a picture of my wife and myself, steve and marie, it's just -- it's one of my favorite pictures right now. >> looks like -- when we come back, i want to talk more about the wedding and special significance to the day that you got married. ♪ ♪ marie, i want to talk to you about the -- >> what do you want to talk to me about? >> well, actually a sort of serious thing, actually. >> shall i leave? >> no, i want you to stay, too. the day you chose to get married was a very significant day. people didn't realize that really until they worked it out. it was the day that your mother was born. and it was the day that your son michael was born who tragically passed away a year ago. did you choose that day deliberately or was it a freak coincidence? >> no, i chose it deliberately. it was one of the reasons why we hurried to do it. it was either do it then or -- when's the next break? >> end of the august. >> and i didn't want to wait until august. i was born on my father's birthday. and i always celebrated with him. and michael always celebrated with my mom. it was chosen because -- that was a great day, that's the day he was born. and it was a wonderful, wonderful gift. he's amazing boy. that way, they could all be there symbolically. i know my mom had something to do with getting steve and me back together. i know she did. i think she even put that dress in my garage. >> would she have been happy? >> oh, yes. my mother -- >> our parents loved steve. >> they loved steve, right. >> what were you thinking about michael on the day you got married? given the fact it was the day he was born. >> as a matter of fact, i took a picture of stephen and all the kids, i had donny stand in for michael. and we're going to put michael's face on his body. >> photo shop me out. she does that a lot. >> i watched the oprah interview that you did. you talked about michael's death. donny, you came on as well. i was getting emotional watching it. it was heart wrenching to see you talk about it. i don't want to go over all of that again. i was struck by one thing, do you ever get over it or do you just learn to deal with it? what's the reality? >> you never get over that. somebody walked up to my daughter and said, so, are you over that now? and her heart broke. no. you know, there's always a place that's set in your heart at the dinner table. there's always a celebration where he's there. it doesn't heal. it just -- god gives you respites, you know, just little breathers. you know, he's my baby. so kind of a -- i had -- always had great empathy for people who lost a child because of my work with children's miracle network. being one of the founders. i've been with people who lost their children. i really thought i felt what they feel. and you do. but it's a really lousy club to belong to. >> it's the worst parental nightmare, isn't it? >> well, you know, god says you go through the sorrow to know the joys. and i know the great joy of his life. and he went through so much. and i learned a lot from the things that he went through, too. actually, in a lot of ways, going through -- his challenges helped me wake up from my own bad situations. and my past marriage and everything else. and he was -- you know, michael, little archangel. he was an angel and is an angel still. and i feel him. i felt him that day. i really did. >> you felt his presence on your wedding day? >> and my mom. i'm her only daughter, i know my mom. >> donny, what was it like for to you see your sister go through such a crushing tragedy and be working with her at the same time? >> you can only imagine what we went through here at the flamingo. she tried to go on stage a week after that ordeal an she did. after a week doing it, she just collapsed and said i can't do it. >> plus i was sick. the lungs symbolic, whatever emotional is grief. i couldn't breathe. we were coughing. i couldn't even sing. >> does performing act as a release as people often say it does? is it a way of getting back into your life? >> you got to be careful about that, piers. because it can be the wrong kind of medicine if you take too much of it. if you live for this, that's wrong. this is our job. we love doing what we do. but if you use it to cover up pain, just cover up pain, then you disregard all the things -- all the dirt in your life you that keep sweeping under the carpet. and it gets really dirty under there. at some point in time, got to pull back the carpet and clean out the dirt. it was great that marie was busy. and she did, she faced the issues, she addressed them and took care of them. >> marie, when you first went out and looked out and saw the audience, they would have known what happened to you. probably amazed that you were performing. did you draw a great comfort from the audience reaction? >> you know, everybody their reasons for doing things. for me, i had postpartum depression. i think part of me was if i didn't work, i don't know that i ever would again. and also, i believe in service, when you're in really great pain, if you step outside of your own pain and serve other people, it really helps. and that was my way of serving, making people feel better. and