Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Days: Sharon Says He Knew Death Was Near Before Last Concert
Sharon Osbourne has said Ozzy Osbourne knew death was near even before his final performance, and both she and daughter Kelly used a recent awards ceremony to underline his lifelong ties to Birmingham. Their comments — made on a podcast and on the Brits red carpet — offer new detail about his health, final shows and the public reaction after he died.
Sharon Osbourne on Ozzy Osbourne's final days
Speaking on the Dumb Blonde podcast hosted by Bunnie XO, also named Alisa DeFord and identified as the wife of musician Jelly Roll, Sharon described the family’s understanding of Ozzy’s condition in the weeks around the farewell shows. “I’m getting there, ” she said of her own recovery. She added that two weeks before the “Back to the Beginning” concert medical staff warned the family he "could probably die, " and that he later did.
Sharon said Ozzy had suffered sepsis earlier in the year and that "very few people ever walk away from that without losing a limb or their life. " When the family returned to England he spent a week in hospital; on release, doctors told him the condition "could kill you. " She recalled his answer: "I'm doing my show. " He then performed at what became his final concert and died on July 22nd, just 17 days after the Villa Park farewell, a timing Sharon emphasized when she said, "He went out like a king. "
She described his fatal heart attack as "quick" and said that when medical teams attempted resuscitation she knew he was done and urged them to stop: "Don't. Don't do it. Leave him. " Sharon framed his final weeks as a conscious choice to die on his own terms, noting that he wanted to "go my way. "
Brit Awards tribute in Manchester
At the Brit Awards red carpet, Sharon and Kelly spoke about the posthumous Lifetime Achievement award presented to Ozzy and the all-star tribute that closed the ceremony. Sharon curated the performance, which was led by Robbie Williams and backed by a band including Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and Ozzy’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde. Both women described the tribute as "an honour. "
In an emotional acceptance speech Sharon said her husband had come "from a small working class neighbourhood in Birmingham" and that he "rose to become one of the most recognisable and respected musicians. " She said he never forgot his home, describing him as "very proud" to be a Brummie and repeating his belief that "northern people are the most loyal people in the world. " Kelly said the family were grateful for the city's support: "We'll never be able to thank the people of Birmingham enough. "
Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park
The farewell show, billed as the "Back to the Beginning" concert, took place at Villa Park, close to where Ozzy was born and raised in the Aston area of Birmingham. He performed final sets both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath. Sharon noted the concert was the last major appearance and that he died "just over two weeks" afterwards.
Fans flocked to Birmingham after his death, laying thousands of flowers and messages at Black Sabbath bridge and lining streets to watch his final journey through the city. Those public displays, Sharon said, were "kind of bittersweet, " because the family had understood the severity of his illness in the final weeks.
