Viewers of the BRIT Awards 2026, held live from Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, showed divided opinions over 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 on July 22, 2025, from a heart attack shortly after his Back To The Beginning farewell concert reuniting him with bandmates.
Ozzy faced numerous health challenges in recent years, including surgeries after a 2019 fall and a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Black Sabbath, formed in 1968, pioneered heavy metal music. Osbourne’s solo success grew further with the 2000s reality series The Osbournes, featuring his wife Sharon and their children.
Sharon Osbourne’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
Sharon Osbourne, accompanied by daughter Kelly, accepted the award onstage. In her speech, she stated: “First of all [censored], 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.”
She 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 [censored] ‘Just say thank you and get off that stage’. But, I’m not going to because I have to waffle on a bit.”
“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 added: “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. He never felt that words were enough to thank everybody for the life that he was given and for the life that he led.”
“To be honest with you, he was the most humble, egomaniac you could ever meet. And yes, at the end of the day he will always be a rockstar. We spent most of our lives touring the world, but Ozzy’s heart never left England. Wherever we were in the world, he was always proud to be a working class Brummie, and he never let anyone forget it.”
She concluded: “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 I wanted especially to thank his crew that was always there and never let him down. We were blessed to have one of the best crews ever on the road. And thousands of people who lined the streets of Birmingham to say goodbye, and of course the millions of fans around the world, he loved them, for giving him his extraordinary career and for their loyalty that they gave him.”
“I know that they loved him back as much as he loved them. 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. So, he may not be here, but he left us one amazing body of work that will never be forgotten by the country that made him.”
Tribute Performance Features Robbie Williams
The ceremony featured a tribute performance curated by Sharon Osbourne: a unique arrangement of Black Sabbath’s 1991 track “No More Tears.” Robbie Williams joined family friend musicians from Osbourne’s band, including keyboardist Adam Wakeman, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, drummer Tommy Clufetos, and guitarist Zakk Wylde.
Mixed Viewer Reactions on Social Media
Social media posts reflected split sentiments. Fans praising Williams included one user who wrote: “Prove all the haters wrong @robbiewilliams show them what you can do. Love the t-shirt #ozzyforever #Brits2026.” Another commented: “Robbie Williams sings ozzy better than he sings Robbie Williams #Brits2026.”
Positive reactions continued: “Robbie doing a tribute to Ozzy, great end to the ceremony! @robbiewilliams #BRITsAwards #Brits2026 #OzzyOsbourne.” And: “Go on Robbie!!!!!! My man!!!! Suits you!!! #Brits2026.” Others noted: “Robbie killed it with his performance tribute to OZZY, I loved it! #BRITs.” And: “Well I loved that Ozzy tribute; Robbie Williams smashed it! #BRITs #BRITAwards.”
Critics preferred Yungblud, who earned a Grammy for his rock performance of Osbourne’s “Changes” at the 2025 Back to the Beginning concert. One posted: “This Ozzy Osbourne tribute isn’t right, surely Yungblud would have been a better choice? #Brits2026.” Another said: “Big fan of Robbie, but if anyone should be doing the Ozzy tribute it should be @yungblud #Brits2026.” A third shared: “Surely it would have made more sense to get yungblud to do this but idm at all cos robbie is doing an amazing job #BRITs2026.”
One user defended the choice: “Everyone saying it should have been Yungblud doing the Ozzy tribute. There’s more singers than Yungblud. Yeah he’s a great singer but I think @robbiewilliams just proved he can do it. I’m sure Sharon had her say who she wanted to do it. That was a lovely tribute #Brits2026.”
