On July 22, 2025, the world lost a rock legend when John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, the iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, passed away at the age of 76. Known as the “Prince of Darkness” for his electrifying stage presence and pioneering role in heavy metal, Osbourne’s death came just weeks after a triumphant farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England. While fans globally mourned the loss of a music icon, it was the heartfelt tributes from his family, particularly his young grandchildren, that revealed the softer side of a man who was, to them, simply “Papa.” Lisa Stelly, the ex-wife of Osbourne’s son Jack, shared an emotional Instagram post featuring intimate photos of Ozzy with his grandkids, captioned, “The world got Ozzy. We got Papa. One of one. Larger than life. It hurts to say goodbye, but what a gift it was to have him. We will never stop missing you.” This poignant farewell, echoing the love of his grandchildren—Andy Rose, Pearl, Minnie, and Maple—underscored the profound personal legacy Ozzy left behind, far beyond his rockstar persona.
The Prince of Darkness: A Rock Legend’s Final Bow
Ozzy Osbourne’s career spanned over five decades, beginning in the late 1960s when he co-founded Black Sabbath with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The band’s dark, heavy sound, epitomized by albums like Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971), defined the heavy metal genre. Fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to struggles with addiction, Osbourne launched a wildly successful solo career with albums like Blizzard of Ozz (1980), featuring the iconic “Crazy Train,” and No More Tears (1991), which included the hit ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” His larger-than-life persona, marked by outrageous antics like biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert, cemented his status as a cultural icon.
Despite his wild image, Osbourne’s later years were defined by resilience. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003 and battling chronic pain from a 2018 fall that required multiple spinal surgeries, he continued to perform. His final album, Patient Number 9 (2022), won two Grammys, showcasing his enduring talent. The Birmingham concert on June 28, 2025, was a bittersweet farewell, where Osbourne, frail but defiant, performed classics like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs” to a tearful crowd of 40,000. “This is my home, and you’re my family,” he told the audience, his voice cracking with emotion.
A Family Man Behind the Legend
Away from the stage, Ozzy was a devoted husband to Sharon Osbourne, his manager and partner since 1982, and a loving father to Aimee, Kelly, and Jack from his second marriage, as well as Louis, Jessica, and Elliot from his first marriage to Thelma Riley. But it was his role as “Papa” to his eight grandchildren that brought out his gentlest side. Jack’s children with Lisa Stelly—Pearl (13), Andy Rose (10), Minnie (7), and Maple (3)—and Kelly’s son Sidney (2) with Sid Wilson of Slipknot, shared a special bond with Ozzy. Sharon’s son Wyatt, adopted by Ozzy, also spoke of his grandfather’s warmth.
Lisa Stelly’s Instagram tribute included candid photos: Ozzy teaching Pearl to play air guitar, reading to Andy, and laughing with Minnie during a backyard barbecue. “He was our superhero,” Stelly wrote, recalling how Ozzy would sing lullabies to the kids despite his gravelly voice. Pearl, the eldest, penned a note shared by her mother: “Papa, you taught me to be brave and love music. I’ll sing your songs forever.” Andy’s drawing of Ozzy with devil horns and a heart, captioned “My Papa,” broke hearts online, garnering over 1.2 million likes.
The Grandkids’ Heartbreaking Goodbye
The grandchildren’s tributes highlighted Ozzy’s role as a playful, loving presence. Minnie, in a video posted by Jack, said, “Papa told me to never stop rocking,” her small voice trembling as she held a Black Sabbath T-shirt. Maple, too young to fully grasp the loss, was seen clutching a stuffed bat—a nod to Ozzy’s infamous stage antics—gifted by her grandfather. Kelly Osbourne shared that Sidney, only two, kept asking, “Where’s Papa Ozzy?” during a family gathering days after his passing. These moments painted a picture of a man whose love transcended his public image.
Sharon Osbourne, devastated by her husband’s death, spoke at a memorial event in Los Angeles on July 25, 2025, attended by stars like Dave Grohl and Metallica’s James Hetfield. “Ozzy lived for his family and his fans,” she said, tears streaming. “He’d be so proud of how his grandkids loved him.” She recounted how Ozzy, despite mobility issues, insisted on attending Pearl’s school talent show in 2023, cheering louder than anyone when she sang “Paranoid.” These stories resonated with fans, who flooded social media with comments like, “Ozzy was a rock god, but to those kids, he was just Papa.”
A Life of Triumph and Struggle
Ozzy’s life was a rollercoaster of triumphs and challenges. His addiction battles in the 1970s and 1980s strained his first marriage and led to his exit from Black Sabbath. Yet, Sharon’s unwavering support helped him achieve sobriety in the 2000s, though relapses occurred. The reality show The Osbournes (2002–2005) humanized him, showing a bumbling yet loving father navigating life with his family. The show’s success, reaching 8 million viewers at its peak, introduced Ozzy to a new generation, including his grandchildren, who later watched reruns and giggled at his antics.
Health struggles defined his later years. After a 2018 fall, Osbourne underwent seven spinal surgeries, the last in 2024. His Parkinson’s diagnosis limited his mobility, but he refused to retire. “Music is my oxygen,” he told Rolling Stone in 2023. His determination inspired his grandchildren, with Pearl citing Ozzy’s perseverance as her motivation to pursue music. “He never gave up, so neither will I,” she said in a family video tribute.
The World Mourns a Legend
Ozzy’s death sparked an outpouring of grief. Black Sabbath’s official X account posted, “Rest in peace, Ozzy. Your voice will echo forever.” Fans gathered outside his Birmingham home, leaving flowers, vinyl records, and candles shaped like bats. Tributes came from peers like Tony Iommi, who called Ozzy “my brother, my bandmate, my hero,” and younger artists like Post Malone, who collaborated with Ozzy on Ordinary Man (2020). Social media posts on X reflected the global impact, with one user writing, “Ozzy wasn’t just a musician; he was a movement. RIP, Papa Ozzy.”
The Osbourne family organized a public memorial at Birmingham’s Villa Park on July 27, 2025, where fans sang “Crazy Train” in unison. Jack Osbourne shared a video of the event, noting, “Dad would’ve loved this chaos.” The grandchildren’s presence, holding hands with Sharon, was a poignant reminder of Ozzy’s personal legacy.
The Grandkids’ Lasting Connection to Papa
Ozzy’s influence on his grandchildren endures. Pearl, an aspiring singer, has started writing songs inspired by Black Sabbath’s raw energy. Andy, a budding guitarist, practices riffs from “Iron Man,” taught by Ozzy during a 2024 visit. Minnie and Maple keep Ozzy’s memory alive through stories and mementos, like the bat-shaped necklaces he gave them. Kelly Osbourne, reflecting on her son Sidney, said, “He’ll grow up knowing Papa through his music and our stories. That’s how legends live on.”
Sharon plans to establish the Ozzy Osbourne Foundation to support young musicians, with Pearl and Andy expressing interest in contributing. “Papa would want kids like us to keep rocking,” Pearl told People magazine. The foundation aims to provide instruments and lessons to underprivileged youth, a nod to Ozzy’s humble beginnings in Birmingham’s working-class Aston neighborhood.
A Legacy Beyond the Stage
Ozzy Osbourne’s life was a testament to resilience, creativity, and love. His music revolutionized a genre, but his role as Papa left an indelible mark on his grandchildren. Their tributes, filled with love and loss, reveal a man who, despite his wild exterior, was a pillar of warmth and inspiration. As Pearl wrote in her note, “Papa, you’re still with us in every song we play.” The question lingers—could Ozzy’s spirit, through his music and the love he shared, truly live on in the hearts of his grandkids and fans worldwide?
In the weeks following his death, fans reported feeling Ozzy’s presence at concerts where his songs were played, as if his energy lingered in the riffs of “Paranoid” or the howl of “Bark at the Moon.” For the grandchildren, this sense of connection is even stronger. Minnie told her mother she heard Ozzy’s voice in a dream, saying, “Keep rocking, kid.” Whether real or imagined, these moments keep Ozzy’s spirit alive, a reminder that legends never truly fade. As Andy’s drawing of Ozzy with a heart and devil horns hangs in the Osbourne family home, it serves as a symbol of a grandfather whose love, like his music, will echo for generations.
