Ozzy Osbourne, Rock Icon and Reality Star, Dies at 76

Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal and one of rock’s most unpredictable icons, has passed away at the age of 76.

Just last week, his daughter Kelly Osbourne denied rumors that he was dying. But on Tuesday morning, the sad news became official: Ozzy died surrounded by family. No cause of death has been released. A statement from the family said, “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.”

For millions of fans, Ozzy wasn’t just a music legend—he was a larger-than-life character who shaped decades of pop culture.

From fronting Black Sabbath to starring in a chaotic reality show, his career was anything but ordinary.

He got his start in Birmingham, England, as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, helping invent heavy metal in the early ‘70s. After being fired from the band in 1979, he launched a wildly successful solo career, producing hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley” while also redefining the role of a rock frontman.

His bizarre stunts—biting the head off a bat, snorting ants, and allegedly urinating on the Alamo while wearing his wife Sharon’s dress—only added to his myth.

Ozzy also became one of the most unlikely reality TV stars of the 2000s, thanks to MTV’s The Osbournes, which turned his entire family into household names and introduced a new generation to the Prince of Darkness.

Despite his hard-partying reputation, Ozzy remained shockingly resilient.

He survived decades of substance abuse and multiple health scares. In 2003, he was seriously injured in an ATV crash, and in 2019 he suffered another fall that aggravated previous injuries. He also batted Parkinson’s disease.

In a 2023 interview, Ozzy described the last few years as “five years of absolute hell.” Still, just this month, he delivered his final performance in Birmingham at the Back to the Beginning show, which raised $190 million for charity.

He sold over 100 million records and holds the rare distinction of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice—first with Black Sabbath in 2006 and again as a solo artist in 2024.

Ozzy is survived by his wife Sharon, children Kelly, Jack, Aimee, and his children from a previous marriage: Jessica, Louis, and Elliot.

Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward all shared heartfelt tributes, with Iommi writing, “There won’t ever be another like him.”

Rest in peace, Ozzy. You truly were one of a kind.