Sharon Osbourne: ‘I visit Ozzy’s grave every day’

Fifteen months have passed since the death of Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away at the age of 76 in his Buckinghamshire home. Despite battling various health issues over the years, including Parkinson’s disease and a fractured vertebra, his sudden passing came as a shock to many. Remarkably, less than three weeks before he died, Ozzy had taken to the stage in Birmingham for what would become his final performance, a farewell concert that left him elated. Reflecting on that moment, his wife Sharon Osbourne recalls how happy he was, noting how Ozzy was surprised that the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. “‘I didn’t get slagged by anybody. Why are people being nice to me?’” she remembers him saying, to which she replied, “‘Because they like you.’”

On the day of his death, Ozzy began his morning with his usual workout but suffered a heart attack shortly afterward. An air ambulance and paramedics rushed to his aid, but it was too late to save him. Sharon shares a tender recollection of the night before he died, describing how Ozzy woke her up, asking for kisses and to be held tightly. She was asleep when someone hurried into their room, urging her to come downstairs, and that was when she learned the devastating news. The grief, she admits, lingers with her constantly. “You never get over it. But you learn to live with it,” Sharon says, acknowledging the enduring pain of losing the love of her life.

The public outpouring of affection for Ozzy was evident even before his funeral. Thousands lined the streets of Birmingham, singing Black Sabbath songs and laying flowers as his body passed through his hometown in a hearse adorned with a purple floral cross. Sharon believes Ozzy would have found such attention bewildering. “‘He’d have been like, ‘What’s the matter with you guys? Go home!’” she says. Yet, the family found great solace in the support from fans worldwide. Their daughter Kelly expressed how comforting it was to realize they were not alone in their grief, saying, “I never could have imagined it to be as helpful as it has been to know that we’re not alone in our grief and our sadness, and that the rest of the world loved him as much as we did.” Sharon has kept all fan messages and cards, while the flowers were composted for the family’s garden, where Ozzy was laid to rest. She explains her decision to avoid a public gravesite: “There’s no peace because people want to come and they want to pay their respects. That’s an ongoing thing, and I wanted Ozzy to rest and just be.” Sharon visits his grave daily and often speaks quietly to him, cherishing their continuing connection.

The bond between Ozzy and Sharon spanned more than five decades. They met in 1970 and married in 1982, experiencing a relationship marked by extreme highs and lows, including a brief separation in 2016 and a past incident in 1989 involving an arrest that Sharon later dropped charges for. Despite the turbulent history, they remained soulmates, with Sharon affirming, “At the end of his life, he knew how much he was loved.” This enduring love is visible in the new documentary “Back To The Beginning,” which shows Ozzy’s last concert with Black Sabbath at Birmingham’s Villa Park. The film features over 25 songs from the event, including Ozzy’s solo set and Black Sabbath’s full performance. Backstage footage captures peers expressing deep admiration for Ozzy’s influence. James Hetfield of Metallica remarks, “If there was no Sabbath, there’s no Metallica. It’s as simple as that.” Meanwhile, artist Yungblud reflects on how Ozzy’s celebration of individuality gave him hope as an outsider.

Sharon recounts that the final concert was Ozzy’s wish, a shining moment after years of declining health. However, the path to the performance was fraught with danger. Six months prior, Ozzy fractured his vertebrae and suffered repeated bouts of pneumonia and sepsis after surgery. Just two weeks before the show, doctors advised him against going on, fearing his heart was too weak. Sharon recalls the family’s fear but also their reliance on Ozzy’s determination. Despite being visibly frail and needing to perform seated, Ozzy’s spirit shone through. Sharon describes how he was initially overwhelmed backstage but became energized by the crowd and the support of bandmates before taking the stage. “Some days just to even talk was an effort, let alone sing,” she says, marveling at his resilience and the vitality that performance brought him. Afterward, Ozzy was inspired to continue touring, confident that fans would accept his seated performance.

Ultimately, Ozzy’s final chapter was one of triumph and love. Sharon reflects on those last days with warmth, saying, “To quote one of his songs, he was flying high again.” She describes the mood during his final weeks as joyous, a stark contrast to the years of pain he endured. Although his passing has left an unfillable void, there remains a sense of peace that he was able to say farewell on his own terms, surrounded by family, friends, and countless devoted fans

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