Ozzy Osbourne’s Family Reveals He Was Hospitalized Just Weeks Before His Final Concert: “We Were Terrified People Would Find Out”
Photo by Morten Skovgaard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Secret Health Scare Before the Final Show
On the newest episode of The Osbournes Podcast, Sharon, Jack, and Kelly Osbourne shared emotional details about Ozzy Osbourne’s final months, revealing that the rock legend was secretly hospitalized just weeks before his last concert. Ozzy passed away on July 22 at 76 years old, but his family described how determined he was to perform one last time, despite his declining health.
After years of health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease, pneumonia, and complications from spinal surgery, Ozzy suffered what his family described as “a little fall” last December. Just two weeks before his Back to the Beginning show in Birmingham, England, he was quietly admitted to the hospital. Sharon recalled how she and her children were desperate to keep the news from leaking.
“The story, I don’t think even you know it, we had him in the hospital and we were just terrified that people were going to find out,” Sharon said. “So we had all the security and the hospital… the hospital was amazing, they really were. The people at the front desk were told, ‘nobody, if they ask for Ozzy, he’s not here. Nobody’s allowed up.’”
Security, Secrecy, and a Case of Mistaken Identity
Sharon explained how tight the security had to be during Ozzy’s stay. The hospital kept photos and names of approved visitors, but one incident nearly exposed everything. “This guy comes up and says, ‘I want to see John Osbourne [Ozzy’s legal name],’ so of course there’s a red light and they go, ‘who are you?’ and he goes, ‘I’m his brother,’” she recalled.
When the staff called to confirm, Sharon immediately denied it. “His sisters, his brother didn’t know. So I sent security down and I said, ‘find out who this guy is, he’s definitely from the press,’” she said. It turned out there was another John Osbourne in the hospital — and it was that John’s brother. “We felt so terrible,” she admitted.
Determined to Perform One Last Time
Despite his condition, Ozzy refused to cancel the concert that featured solo material, a Black Sabbath reunion, and guest appearances from members of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and more. “It’s not like we forced him, wheeled him out there… to do this gig,” Jack said. “He was adamant… he was running the show. He said he knew exactly what he wanted. Yeah, and he was determined to do it.”
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Messages from Trump and King Charles
Following Ozzy’s death, the family received condolences from around the world — including a voicemail from Donald Trump. Sharon, who once competed on The Celebrity Apprentice, played the message on the podcast. Trump said, “Hi, Sharon, it’s Donald Trump, and I just wanted to wish you the best. Ozzy was amazing. He was an amazing guy. I met him a few times, and I want to tell you he was unique in every way and talented. So I just wanted to wish you the best, and it’s a tough thing. I know how close you were, and whatever I can do. Take care of yourself. Say hello to the family.”
They also received a handwritten letter from King Charles. “We got a lovely letter from the king,” Jack shared. Sharon added, “Our king, he’s an amazing person. Not just because he wrote to us when Ozzy passed… if he did it for us, you know he does it for many, many people.”
Sharon recalled that King Charles had reached out before, even when Ozzy was hospitalized after his motorbike accident. “He’s a good, caring man with a good heart,” she said. “He took the time out of his day to write us, have it hand-delivered to us, a note from the king for Ozzy’s passing with his condolences. And that says so much.”
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