Viewers of the BRIT Awards 2026, held live from Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, expressed mixed reactions to a posthumous lifetime achievement award presented to Ozzy Osbourne, followed by a musical tribute performance. The Black Sabbath frontman, often called the Prince of Darkness, passed away at age 76 in July 2025 from a heart attack, shortly after his Back to the Beginning farewell concert reuniting him with bandmates. His death came after years of health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and multiple surgeries following a 2019 fall.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Enduring Legacy
Black Sabbath, formed in 1968, pioneered heavy metal music. Ozzy built a thriving solo career and gained new fans through the 2000s reality series The Osbournes, featuring his wife Sharon and their children. The BRIT Awards recognized his contributions during the February 28 ceremony, broadcast live for the first time from Manchester.
Sharon Osbourne’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
Sharon Osbourne, accompanied by daughter Kelly, accepted the award onstage. She delivered a heartfelt speech, beginning with a call to unity: “All of us, everyone in this place tonight are joined. We’re one because everyone in this place loves music, and it brings us all together. Such amazing artists tonight. I mean, everyone’s a winner, everyone. How lucky are we all to be in this business? It’s a gift. It really is.”
Sharon continued, “I’m honoured to accept this award for my gorgeous husband, this lifetime achievement award. God knows, I wish he was here to accept it himself. But you’ve got the booby prize, you’ve got me doing it! But I know that Ozzy is looking down on us all right now, and I know what he’s thinking. He hated making speeches, he hated listening to speeches, and he’ll be saying ‘Just say thank you and get off that stage’. But, I’m not going to because I have to waffle on a bit.”
She highlighted Ozzy’s remarkable 56-year career: “We all know how fickle this industry can be, and my old man was blessed with a one-in-a-million career. He was at the top of this game for 56 years. I could go on about his achievements but that’s boring. Ozzy was authentic, he was gifted, totally unpredictable, a wild man. He was a true artist.”
Sharon reflected on his roots: “He came from a small working-class neighbourhood in Birmingham. He rose to become one of the most recognisable and respected musicians of his life, and it was filled with extraordinarily wonderful high times, but very real lower times. He never stopped tirelessly pushing himself to do better, he always wanted to do better, both personally and professionally.”
She described him as “the most humble, egomaniac you could ever meet” and noted his pride in his Brummie heritage. Sharon extended thanks to family, musicians, crew, Birmingham well-wishers, and global fans: “I’m accepting this for Ozzy, but this award goes to his incredible family. It goes to the so many musicians that helped Ozzy along the way… and thousands of people who lined the streets of Birmingham to say goodbye, and of course the millions of fans around the world… If Ozzy was here tonight with us he would be showing that gorgeous smile that he had, and I know he would be so proud to receive this from the country that he loved.”
Tribute Performance Features Robbie Williams
The speech preceded a tribute curated by Sharon: a unique arrangement of Black Sabbath’s 1991 track “No More Tears.” Robbie Williams performed alongside former Ozzy collaborators, including keyboardist Adam Wakeman, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist Zakk Wylde.
Fans Split on Performer Choice
Reactions varied. Some praised Robbie’s delivery. One viewer posted: “Prove all the haters wrong @robbiewilliams show them what you can do. Love the t-shirt #ozzyforever #Brits2026.” Another said: “Robbie Williams sings ozzy better than he sings Robbie Williams #Brits2026.” Positive comments included: “Robbie doing a tribute to Ozzy, great end to the ceremony!” and “Robbie killed it with his performance tribute to OZZY, I loved it!”
Others preferred Yungblud, who earned a Grammy for best rock performance with his cover of Ozzy’s “Changes” at the 2025 Back to the Beginning concert. Comments read: “This Ozzy Osbourne tribute isn’t right, surely Yungblud would have been a better choice?” and “Big fan of Robbie, but if anyone should be doing the Ozzy tribute it should be @yungblud.” One noted: “Surely it would have made more sense to get yungblud to do this but idm at all cos robbie is doing an amazing job.” A defender replied: “Everyone saying it should have been Yungblud… I’m sure Sharon had her say who she wanted to do it. That was a lovely tribute.”
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