Introduction
After more than four decades since releasing his first solo album, Ozzy Osbourne has officially been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. While he was already honored back in 2006 as a founding member of Black Sabbath, this long-awaited recognition celebrates the massive impact he’s made on rock music as a solo performer. For fans and musicians alike, this moment felt overdue—but entirely deserved.
Ozzy’s solo induction video has already racked up over 1.7 million views on YouTube. The ceremony opened with an enthusiastic and heartfelt speech from actor and Tenacious D frontman Jack Black. Declaring Ozzy “the greatest frontman in rock and roll history,” Black also recalled how Ozzy’s 1980 debut album, Blizzard of Ozz, changed his life as a teenager. He also took a moment to honor the memory of Ozzy’s legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads and reflected on the legacy of Black Sabbath and the birth of heavy metal.
In his tribute, Black didn’t just stick to music. He highlighted Ozzy’s unexpected influence on pop culture through The Osbournes, the reality TV series that brought his family life to millions of viewers in the early 2000s. “Ozzy and his family basically invented a new genre,” Jack joked, “and maybe that was the most wicked thing he ever did.”
Before Ozzy took the stage, a tribute reel played featuring industry legends like Rick Rubin, Sir Paul McCartney, Rob Halford, Kirk Hammett, Post Malone, and Zakk Wylde—all paying homage to the Prince of Darkness. When the camera cut to Ozzy himself, he was seated on a dramatic black leather throne shaped like a bat, a fitting nod to his larger-than-life image.
In the crowd, his children—Jack and Kelly Osbourne—stood proudly with their own kids. Kelly, holding her one-year-old son Sidney, made a rare public appearance, while Jack stood next to his daughters Pearl and Andy. The moment was intimate, showing the generational impact Ozzy has had not only on music but on his own family.
Now 75 years old and living with Parkinson’s disease, Ozzy looked physically frail but emotionally strong. “I can’t believe I’m actually here,” he confessed, his voice trembling. As he looked out into the audience, he gave a heartfelt nod to his wife, Sharon, calling her the one who “saved my life.” Sharon, visibly moved, watched with tears in her eyes. Jack Black closed the tribute by turning to Ozzy and saying what everyone else was thinking: “Thank you for existing. You’re a legend. We love you.”
Despite his ongoing health struggles, Ozzy still had one more iconic moment to give. As the tribute band prepared to perform “Crazy Train,” he delivered the song’s unforgettable opening line—“All aboard!”—with a force that echoed the raw energy of his youth. It was emotional, powerful, and bittersweet, a moment that hinted this might be one of the last times we hear those words from the man who made them legendary.
What followed was an epic tribute performance featuring a star-studded lineup: Chad Smith, Robert Trujillo, Adam Wakeman, Andrew Watt, Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Zakk Wylde, Jelly Roll, Maynard James Keenan, and Wolfgang Van Halen. Together, they rocked through “Crazy Train,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” and “No More Tears.”
Yet even with that much talent on one stage, Ozzy’s original recordings still stood unmatched. His voice, his presence, and his spirit have always been one of a kind. And this Hall of Fame induction is a final reminder that his legacy is not only unique—it’s untouchable.