Sharon Osbourne was left in tears as she gave a rousing speech while accepting husband Ozzy Osbourne’s Icon Award at the inaugural Rolling Stone UK Awards 2023.
The Black Sabbath frontman’s 55-year-long career was honoured at the star-studded ceremony, held at London’s Camden Roundhouse, but the rocker was too ill to travel.
In his place, former X Factor judge Sharon proudly took to the stage on the 74-year-old’s behalf before getting overcome with emotion, explaining how much the honour meant to him as “music is all he’s ever known”.
The 71-year-old added through tears: “I’m just so f**ked up that he’s not here tonight because it means so much and he has worked so hard...
“The worst thing for Ozzy is to put him in a studio because he’s confined and he hates it but he always manages to come out with a winner.
“Now it’s 55 years he’s been making music and a 55-year career where he’s never had a dud album. He’s sold, God, it’s going to be 150 million albums in those 55 years.
“I’m just so proud of him as a man, as a musician. It’s been my honour to be on his coattails, I adore him – and you’ve just got no idea what this means to him right now.
“I just wanted to thank you again for supporting him. Ozzy is what rock’n’roll is all about, he’s wild, he’s fabulous, he’s talented, he’s like a f**king uncaged animal and I adore him and I know you all do too.”
Osbourne’s emotional display comes after Ozzy announced earlier this year his plans to retire from touring.
The British musician was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson’s disease in 2003, however he only went public with his diagnosis in 2020 after he suffered a fall in 2019, which caused metal rods in his back to dislodge.
Other winners honoured at the ceremony, hosted by comedian Munya Chawawa, included Lewis Capaldi, who won the gamechanger award, almost five months after his announcement that he would be taking a break from music due to the impact of his Tourette’s.
Sci-fi series Doctor Who won the television award, which was accepted by David Tennant – who stars in three new, special episodes of the long-running BBC show celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Elsewhere, singer Jessie Ware was handed the artist award while Get Out actor Daniel Kaluuya received the film award for his work co-writing and co-directing dystopian drama The Kitchen.
A slew of music artists were recognised, including English singer Maisie Peters, who won the breakthrough act award, and electronic duo The Chemical Brothers, who took home the album award for their record For That Beautiful Feeling, released in September.
The rising star award was handed to The Last Dinner Party, and the song of the year award was given to PinkPantheress for Boy’s A Liar Pt 2 with Ice Spice.
Rapper Digga D won the trailblazer award and Yungblud was given the live act gong. Other awards included the record label award, which went to Partisan Records, and the festival award, which was handed to Download.
Attendees of the awards ceremony were treated to performances from the likes of former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson, rock band The Last Dinner Party and singer Kenya Grace.
