OZZY OSBOURNE was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 BRIT Awards ceremony at Manchester's Co-op Live on February 28, in what became the emotional centerpiece of the evening. Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, joined by Louis Osbourne — Ozzy's son from his first marriage — accepted the award on behalf of the Prince of Darkness, who passed away in July 2025 at age 76 after years of battling Parkinson's disease and related health complications.
The tribute began with a video package tracing Ozzy's extraordinary journey from the working-class streets of Birmingham to global superstardom — from his revolutionary work with BLACK SABBATH inventing heavy metal in the early 1970s, through his equally groundbreaking solo career that spawned classics like "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman," to his cultural reinvention as a reality TV icon in the 2000s. The montage drew audible gasps and tears from the Manchester audience.
An all-star tribute performance of "No More Tears" — the title track from Ozzy's multi-million-selling 1991 masterpiece — was curated by Sharon Osbourne and featured musicians who played in Ozzy's band across multiple eras: guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Robert Trujillo, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, and drummer Tommy Clufetos. The ensemble was fronted by Robbie Williams, personally invited by Sharon, who delivered a commanding vocal performance that honored the original while making it unmistakably his own.
A video message from Dolly Parton added to the emotional ceremony, with the country legend recalling her collaboration with Ozzy on her 2023 rock album and praising his "legacy that has left a permanent imprint on music lovers everywhere." Sharon Osbourne's acceptance speech was both tearful and defiant, promising that Ozzy's legacy would continue to grow. She also confirmed that Ozzfest will return in 2027, calling it "a tribute to Ozzy's legacy" and revealing plans for two days at Birmingham's Villa Park Stadium before heading to America. Ozzy had hosted the BRITs in 2008 but, remarkably, never won one during his lifetime.