Though the world mourned Ozzy Osbourne’s passing on July 22, 2025, his legacy remains absolutely monumental, defined by two distinct, successful careers: first as a music pioneer, and later as a surprisingly beloved reality television star.
The Architect of Heavy Metal: Black Sabbath and Beyond
Ozzy Osbourne performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp)
Ozzy Osbourne first achieved global fame as the lead vocalist and co-founder of Black Sabbath in 1968. The band, along with its massive hits like “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “Paranoid,” is widely credited with inventing the heavy metal genre through its use of low-tuned guitars, dark, dramatic lyrics, and blues-infused riffs. After his departure from Black Sabbath, Ozzy launched a highly successful solo career in 1980 with the album Blizzard of Ozz. He continued to dominate the charts throughout the decades with singles like “Crazy Train,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” and “No More Tears,” showcasing his signature blend of musical energy and controversial themes.
From Shock Rocker to Reality TV Patriarch
The Osbournes (L-R) Jack, Sharon, Ozzy and Kelly are shown in this undated photo on Novemember 19, 2002 in Beverly Hills, California. The Osbournes will host the 30th Annual American Music Awards on January 13, 2003 in Los Angeles. (Handout photo delivered by Getty Images)
In 2002, at a time when his music career was still active but past its commercial peak, Ozzy experienced a bizarre second act of fame by starring in the MTV reality series, The Osbournes. The show, which documented the chaotic, profane, and strangely relatable domestic life of Ozzy, his wife Sharon, and two of his children (Kelly and Jack), became an overnight global sensation. It was the highest-rated show in MTV history at the time, and its success is largely credited with pioneering the celebrity reality TV format that would later birth shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The show successfully stripped away the “Prince of Darkness” persona, revealing a lovable, bumbling, and often confused family man, transforming him into a mainstream national treasure.
Enduring Honors and Final Farewell
Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage during the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony streaming on Disney+ at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Ozzy’s vast influence earned him numerous honors: he was a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (once with Black Sabbath and once as a solo artist in 2024) and won five Grammy Awards. Despite dealing with Parkinson’s disease and other health issues in his final years, he performed his final show—the all-star “Back to the Beginning” concert—on July 5, 2025. Following his passing, his hometown of Birmingham, England, has continued to honor his legacy, presenting his family with the Lord Mayor’s Award on what would have been his 77th birthday. His work, which sold over 100 million records worldwide, ensures his place as an eternal icon of music and pop culture.
