The 2026 Grammy Awards delivered a profoundly emotional moment as the Osbourne family struggled to contain their grief during a moving tribute to the late heavy metal icon, Ozzy Osbourne. Sharon, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne were visibly overcome, breaking down in tears during the ceremony's 'In Memoriam' segment, which honoured the Black Sabbath legend six months after his passing at age 76 following a heart attack.
A Powerful Musical Homage
The tribute reached its crescendo with a powerhouse performance of the Black Sabbath classic War Pigs, delivered by an all-star ensemble featuring Post Malone, Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt. As the music swelled through the auditorium, the Osbourne family stood in the audience, their raw emotion laid bare for all to see.
Kelly Osbourne appeared particularly shaken, flanked by her mother Sharon, who dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, and brother Jack, who stared ahead with a tight jaw, clearly fighting to maintain composure. The trio's grief was unmistakable, their expressions reflecting the immense weight of the moment.
Prepared for Emotion
Remarkably, Kelly had anticipated the emotional impact while walking the red carpet earlier in the evening. During the official Grammy's red carpet live stream, she shared, 'It means more than I can express into words. To see his peers and this community cherish him in such a way, and in a way that he deserves. It'll be very emotional.'
Ozzy Osbourne's legacy as one of heavy metal's true trailblazers was comprehensively celebrated throughout the segment. Over six decades, he sold more than 100 million albums and gifted the world unforgettable classics like Iron Man and Crazy Train. His decorated career included five Grammy wins—two with Black Sabbath and three as a solo artist—cementing his place among music's most enduring legends.
A Broader Memorial Segment
The Grammys' 'In Memoriam' segment extended beyond Ozzy, opening with Bruce Springsteen's heartfelt tribute to Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, who passed last summer at 82. 'The last of the Wilson brothers may be gone, but he leaves behind so many great songs, and good vibrations,' Springsteen reflected.
Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, who died just last month at 78, was remembered by his Dead & Company bandmate John Mayer, who noted in a touching voiceover, 'He understood songwriting to its core, having written and performed some of the most enduring music in American history.'
Stirring Performances
Reba McEntire made her Grammys debut, delivering a stirring rendition of Trailblazer with Lukas Nelson and Brandy Clark as the names of the departed flickered across the screen. Following Ozzy's tribute, Lauryn Hill returned to the Grammys stage for the first time since 1999 to honour D'Angelo, who died last fall at 51, performing their collaboration Nothing Even Matters from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Hill continued the momentum, paying homage to Roberta Flack—who passed in February 2025—with a soulful rendition of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face alongside Jon Batiste. Chaka Khan then joined, performing Where Is the Love with John Legend, before Hill teamed with Wyclef Jean for the Fugees classic Killing Me Softly With His Song.
The segment closed with a moment for Sly Stone, who died in June 2025 at 82, leaving the audience in reflective silence as the ceremony honoured music's fallen giants.
