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Ozzy Osbourne Honored at 2025 VMAs in Emotional Tribute
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards paid a heartfelt tribute to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July at age 76. The segment celebrated his five-decade career, with moving speeches, fiery performances, and a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
A Star-Studded Salute
Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, accepted the award on his behalf, fighting tears as she thanked fans for their support. “Ozzy lived for music and for you,” she said. “He’d want everyone to keep rocking—loud and forever.” The crowd erupted in applause as footage of Ozzy’s wildest VMAs moments played, including his iconic 1984 bat-biting incident.
Metallica kicked off the tribute with a thunderous cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” while Post Malone delivered a stripped-down version of “Crazy Train,” calling Ozzy “the Godfather of rebellion.” The performances culminated in a group singalong of “Paranoid,” with the audience chanting Ozzy’s name.
Legacy of a Metal Icon
Ozzy’s influence stretched far beyond music. His reality TV show The Osbournes redefined celebrity culture, and his battles with addiction inspired candid conversations about mental health. Fellow artists like Jack Black praised him as “a survivor who turned chaos into art,” while Taylor Swift called him “the reason I picked up a guitar.”
Despite retiring from touring in 2023 due to health issues, Ozzy stayed active, releasing his final album, Shadow of the Moon, weeks before his death. Sharon confirmed a biopic and archival projects are in the works, promising “the world hasn’t seen the last of him.”
A Final Farewell
The tribute closed with a video montage of Ozzy’s career, set to his haunting ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” As stars and fans waved lit-up devil horns (his signature symbol), Sharon blew a kiss to the screen, whispering, “I love you, Ozzy.”
Though the “Prince of Darkness” has left the stage, his legacy lives on—loud, unapologetic, and eternally wild.
“See you on the other side,” Ozzy once said. For now, the music world remains forever in his shadow.
