Sharon & Kelly Osbourne Accept the Lord Mayor’s Award in Memory of Ozzy Osbourne

The city of Birmingham was filled with emotion on Wednesday as Sharon and Kelly Osbourne accepted the prestigious Lord Mayor’s Award in honor of the late Ozzy Osbourne. Fans gathered in the rock legend’s hometown to celebrate what would have been his 77th birthday, turning the day into a heartfelt tribute to the man who forever changed the course of heavy metal music.

Ozzy, the iconic Black Sabbath frontman, died of heart failure at his Buckinghamshire home on July 22 — just two weeks after performing a powerful final concert with his bandmates at Birmingham’s Villa Park. His passing marked the end of a monumental chapter in rock history.

A Family Accepts a City’s Honor

Sharon Osbourne was presented with the award by councillor Ken Wood as daughter Kelly stood beside her, struggling to hold back tears. The Lord Mayor’s Award is given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the community — and Ozzy’s impact on his hometown and the world was undeniable.

Fans laid dozens of floral tributes at the famed Black Sabbath Bench on Broad Street, where the family left a handwritten note that read:

“We love you Daddy, Love Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.”

Many later signed a condolence book placed beside the bench, adding personal messages of gratitude and grief.

A Legacy That Transformed Music Forever

With more than 100 million records sold, Ozzy Osbourne remains synonymous with the heavy metal sound he helped pioneer when he formed Black Sabbath in Birmingham in 1969. Songs like “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “Paranoid” reshaped rock music and pushed boundaries culturally, lyrically, and sonically.

The band’s exploration of dark and occult imagery became both wildly popular and deeply controversial — even drawing criticism from religious leaders, including a future pope who condemned Ozzy for his supposed “subliminal satanic influence.”

Heartfelt Family Tributes

Earlier in the day, Sharon shared a moving tribute on Instagram, writing:

“I will never let go of your hand until I see you on the other side… My darling husband, I celebrate the day you were born.”

Kelly also honored her father with a childhood photo and a message filled with love:

“Happy birthday I miss you daddy! I love you more than life itself!”

She later posted a photo from the Black Sabbath bench, surrounded by flowers, writing:

“You most certainly did not die an ordinary man! Life without you is hard, but not a day goes by that I don’t dedicate my life to loving you and your legacy… I miss you more than anything in the world.”

A Brother Missing From the Moment

Jack Osbourne, currently competing on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here, was unable to attend. Kelly admitted the day felt even harder without him:

“I can’t lie — today is really hard without my brother. I would give anything to talk to him.”

Jack recently opened up about his father’s death on the show, becoming emotional as he reflected on the four-month anniversary of Ozzy’s passing.

A Final Farewell Worthy of a Legend

Ozzy’s final performance alongside original Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward was a historic reunion — their first since 2005. The emotional farewell show marked the end of a six-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease and decades of electrifying performances that defined heavy metal culture.

Though Ozzy Osbourne may no longer walk among us, his legacy thunders on — in every riff, every fan who found inspiration in his music, and every moment when his unmistakable voice echoes through speakers around the world.