Sharon Osbourne invites Robbie Williams to lead Ozzy tribute; sharon osbourne curates No More Tears finale
sharon osbourne has curated a closing tribute for Ozzy Osbourne at the Brit Awards, tapping Robbie Williams to front a special arrangement of No More Tears as the heavy metal icon receives a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award. The moment will close the ceremony in Manchester, a rare staging of the awards outside London.
Robbie Williams to front special arrangement curated by Sharon Osbourne
Robbie Williams will lead the on-stage tribute at Manchester's Co-op Live, fronting a special arrangement of No More Tears that Sharon Osbourne curated. Williams was personally invited by Sharon Osbourne to take part, described in the event materials as "a long-standing fan of the music and friend of the family. " The performance is set to close the night.
Band members and guests who will join Williams
The Brits performance will feature musicians who played as part of Ozzy's band over the years: Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde. Those names join Williams onstage for what organisers are billing as a tribute that draws on Ozzy's longtime collaborators.
Ozzy's death, farewell and posthumous honour
Ozzy Osbourne died last July, just weeks after his farewell performance in his hometown of Birmingham, and will be posthumously honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at the ceremony on Saturday in Manchester. The award recognises his five-decade career and the lasting influence his music exerted on rock and metal.
Sales, albums and industry honours that shaped the award
Over five decades, Ozzy Osbourne racked up more than 100 million worldwide album sales, including 19 studio albums and eight live albums with Black Sabbath and another 13 studio albums as a solo artist. His industry accolades include five Grammy awards; induction into both the UK Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — both with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist, in separate years — and the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, with Black Sabbath.
Event context: location, hosts, other performers and recent tributes
The Brit Awards will take place on Saturday at Manchester's Co-op Live and will be hosted by Jack Whitehall. It is the first time in the event's history that the ceremony will be held outside of London. Performances on the night will include EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — the singing voices of HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters — Alex Warren, Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Mark Ronson, Raye, Rosalía, Sombr and Wolf Alice.
Industry recognition across the ceremony and earlier tributes
Jacob Alon has been announced as the winner of this year's Critics' Choice award, Noel Gallagher will be presented with Brits Songwriter of the Year, and PinkPantheress will be honoured with the Brits Producer of the Year award. The Brit tribute follows earlier memorial performances at the US Grammys, where Post Malone, Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith and Andrew Watt performed a cover of War Pigs.
Brits committee chair frames the Lifetime Achievement decision
Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 Brit Awards Committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: "Ozzy Osbourne has been a mighty force in modern music. Possessing an unmistakable voice and unique presence, he reshaped the sound and spirit of rock, inspiring generations of artists who followed. This Lifetime Achievement Award recognises a remarkable legacy built on originality and enduring influence, that continues to connect with fans worldwide. "
Robbie Williams' recent collaborations and links to Black Sabbath
Williams, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, teamed up last year with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi for the single Rocket and has previously performed sections of Paranoid at a live performance. Those connections underpin his role leading the Brit tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.
