Sharon Osbourne is still thinking in terms of torch-passing, and she’s making it clear Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy isn’t something she plans to let fade quietly.
In a wide-ranging conversation at MIDEM 2026 with festival organizer Andy Copping, Sharon spoke about what made Ozzy singular: the lack of pretense, the way he made everyone around him feel welcome, and the drive to keep heavy music alive by putting younger bands on big stages. That philosophy, she argued, wasn’t just part of Ozzy’s persona — it was baked into the infrastructure he helped build.
Copping echoed that point, crediting Ozzfest’s “platform” approach, pairing established names with emerging acts, as a model that reshaped modern rock and metal festivals in the years that followed.
One of the most emotional moments Sharon returned to was the ripple effect of Yungblud’s tribute performance of Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” a rendition that, in her telling, cut through the noise and landed as a genuine, generational salute rather than a brand-new coat of nostalgia paint. That tribute also followed Yungblud to the 2026 Grammys, where he won Best Rock Performance for his cover of “Changes” and used the moment to honor Ozzy’s influence.
The conversation also landed on what comes next. Sharon reiterated that Ozzfest is slated to return in 2027, framing it as something Ozzy supported before his death — and something she believes can exist without him onstage, because the mission was always bigger than one headliner.
Details on format, cities, and lineup remain under wraps, but Sharon has signaled she wants the revived Ozzfest to keep its core identity intact: heavy bands, new talent, and a festival culture that feels lived-in — not manufactured.
Nearly 30 years after Ozzfest first hit the road, Sharon’s message at MIDEM was straightforward: Ozzy’s chapter may have ended, but the ecosystem he helped build is still supposed to move forward — loud, messy, and alive.
