Ozzy Osbourne tribute confirmed for MTV VMAs
On September 7th, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, also known as the VMAs, will honour the late Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne.
Osbourne passed away on July 22nd at the age of 76 from a heart attack. The star also suffered from several other ailments, such as Parkinson’s disease. He passed not three weeks after the Black Sabbath farewell show, Back to the Beginning, took place in Birmingham, his hometown.
Osbourne’s death was initially confirmed by his family. In a joint statement from his wife Sharon and his four children, they wrote: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.”
Now, an official salute will take place at the VMAs, with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt all set to take part.
Yungblud has been extremely open about his recent connection with the metal leader. Following his death, the Doncaster native wrote online, “I didn’t think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room. But as it is written with legends, they seem to know the things that we don’t. I will never forget you — you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage.”
The Awards will take place at New York’s UBS Arena on September 7th. The tribute will deliver a medley of Osbourne’s greatest hits. Yungblud, Bettencourt and Tyler were among the many artists who originally honoured him at the Back to the Beginning farewell show. Tyler sang lead vocals on tracks by Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith in Birmingham, but no Osbourne-fronted tracks.
The VMAs will also feature performances by the likes of Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Alex Warren, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, J Balvin, and more.
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