Sharon Osbourne has spoken out for the first time since her husband Ozzy Osbourne sadly passed away.
The 76-year-old Black Sabbath frontman, who had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2018, died surrounded by family just weeks after his final performance.
On July 5, Ozzy hosted a massive charity concert in his hometown of Birmingham, U.K., raising a staggering $190 million. Dubbed Back to the Beginning, the show was not only a celebration of heavy metal history but also an emotional farewell.
In a public statement, the Osbourne family confirmed: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The news sent shockwaves through the music world, prompting a wave of online tributes.
One particularly touching message came from BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, who wrote on Instagram: “As I was on air tonight, the news broke that we had lost one of the greatest showman the world of metal and music has ever seen.
"The bands and artists that dare to fly the flag in the name of rock n roll do so because Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath did first. He was a blessing to music. Rest In Peace the Prince Of Darkness.”
Sharon Osbourne responded personally: “Jack thank you for your tribute to Ozzy tonight, Bless you.”
But perhaps the most poignant memories came from Ozzy’s two older sisters, Jean Powell, 85, and Gillian Hemming, 80, who opened up about their brother’s final days.
“We saw him in Birmingham the other week when he and the rest of the band were given the freedom of the city,” Jean shared with the Mirror. “It was upsetting because he could not stand up straight, but he was still our John, still cracking the jokes.”
The sisters stayed up all night reminiscing after hearing the news of his death. “To us he was our brother, not a celebrity, so it’s crazy to see the outpouring of love since his death was announced,” Jean said.
“We just can’t believe he is gone and we won’t be getting another phone call or text from him. Every week without fail he would get in touch, either by phone or text, to ask how we were all doing and what was going on.”
“Of the six siblings there’s only three of us left now - me, Gillian and our brother Paul,” Jean added.
They remembered his final performance at Villa Park vividly. “We last saw him at the concert at Villa Park. I got a text off him as he drove down Lodge Road, where we used to live near the stadium.
"He said he couldn’t believe all the crowds were walking down our old street to watch him perform. He was blown away,” said Jean. “We had an executive box in the stadium, and when I saw the sea of people waiting to see our John I just broke down.”
Though frail in his final days, Ozzy still had plans, Jean noted. “He was frail but it still came as a shock. He still had plans and things he wanted to do. We don’t know the details of his death, it’s still too early. It’s just so sad.