The 2026 Grammy Awards paused to honour one of rock music’s most influential figures, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away last summer. The tribute brought together a powerful lineup of artists
who had either worked closely with Ozzy or were deeply inspired by his legacy, creating one of the night’s most talked-about moments.
Post Malone led the tribute, joining forces with Slash, Andrew Watt, Duff McKagan and Chad Smith.
Tribute to Prince of Darkness
As the stage lit up in deep red tones, the group launched into a high-energy performance of Black Sabbath’s iconic anti-war anthem War Pigs. Flames burst from the sides of the stage as guitars clashed and drums thundered, capturing the raw spirit that defined Ozzy’s music for decades. Visuals behind the performers also paid respect to other late rock legends, reminding viewers of a generation that shaped modern music.
Throughout the performance, cameras cut to Ozzy’s children, Jack, Kelly and Aimee Osbourne, who were seen watching emotionally from the audience. The moment added a personal layer to an already moving tribute, showing the impact Ozzy’s work had both on stage and off.
Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Andrew Watt (Ozzy Osbourne), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) e Post Malone cantando “War Pigs” do Black Sabbath em tributo a Ozzy Osbourne no #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/a9OEwXo9yh
— Igor Rogh (@igorogh) February 2, 2026
Yungblud honors Ozzy Osbourne
The Grammys also celebrated Ozzy’s influence in the awards themselves. Yungblud won Best Rock Performance for his striking cover of Black Sabbath’s Changes, alongside collaborators Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello and Adam Wakeman. During his acceptance speech, Yungblud spoke openly about Ozzy being his hero and guiding force. He shared that he lit a candle with Sharon Osbourne the night before the ceremony and later invited her onstage, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
While accepting the award Yungblud said, “We want to thank Sharon, Jack [Osbourne], Kelly [Osbourne] and Amy for this opportunity. Everyone in the Back to the Beginning Show, the whole band with me right now — we’re six generations of rock musicians that came together in the name of our genre, in the name of Sabbath, in the name of Ozzy Osbourne. God bless rock music, and god bless f***ing Ozzy Osbourne.”
Congrats to “Changes (Live from Villa Park) Back to the Beginning” – @Yungblud, @Wakemanofficial , @NunoBettencourt, @TheFrankBello & @iiSleepToken for winning the Grammy for Best Rock Performance
📸: Lauren S Stephens pic.twitter.com/HgCEOan4pB— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) February 1, 2026
Together, the performances and speeches formed a heartfelt goodbye to the Prince of Darkness. The tribute made it clear that while Ozzy Osbourne may be gone, his voice, sound and spirit continue to echo through generations of rock music.
