A moving tribute to the late heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne took center stage at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards last night (February 1) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The emotional performance left Osbourne’s family—wife Sharon and children Jack and Kelly—visibly moved in the audience.
The tribute was part of the annual in memoriam segment, which recognizes musicians and industry figures who passed away in the previous year. Osbourne tragically died in July 2025 from a heart attack after battling illness.
Taking the stage in his honor, a star-studded lineup of collaborators from Osbourne’s final two albums delivered a stirring rendition of BLACK SABBATH’s iconic track “War Pigs.” Post Malone, who had worked with Osbourne on two songs before his passing, led the performance.
Joining him were GUNS N’ ROSES guitarist Slash and bassist/vocalist Duff McKagan, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, and producer/musician Andrew Watt, who played a central role in Osbourne’s last two albums.
Just two weeks before his passing, Osbourne reunited with the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward — for his final performance at the “Back To The Beginning” charity concert in their hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
At the event, Ozzy played a five-song solo set with his band — guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, and drummer Tommy Clufetos — performing classics from his 1980 solo debut Blizzard of Ozz such as “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” and “Crazy Train,” along with the 1991 ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” He was later joined by Iommi, Butler, and Ward for four BLACK SABBATH classics: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid.”
Osbourne, who passed away on July 22 following a heart attack, had publicly battled coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease for years, according to his death certificate filed in London. The upcoming tribute honors his enduring impact on the world of rock and metal.
The Grammy Awards remain the only peer-recognized accolade in music, with winners determined by the Recording Academy’s voting membership, which includes artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers across all genres.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.