The heavy metal world has lost a true legend, and it’s a gap that won’t be filled. The Recording Academy has announced that the 2026 Grammy Awards will honor the late Ozzy Osbourne with a special performance. This tribute will feature a mix of artists, including Guns N’ Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan, Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and producer Andrew Watt, who worked on Ozzy’s last two albums.
In addition to the tribute, the Grammys will include their regular “In Memoriam” segment. This year, Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo, while Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson will also be featured. The 2026 Grammy Awards will air live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, February 1.
Ozzy Osbourne didn’t just help create heavy metal; he gave it a unique personality. Before him, rock was loud, but Ozzy made it darker and more intense while keeping it fun. His voice was raw and haunting, perfectly matching the heavy music behind it.
With Black Sabbath, Ozzy pushed rock into a heavier direction, slowing down the tempo and thickening the riffs. Those early songs didn’t just follow trends; they set them. When he went solo, he didn’t look back. Instead, he surrounded himself with musicians who kept pushing metal forward.
Ozzy’s true legacy goes beyond his albums. He showed that metal could be weird, theatrical, and emotional. He proved that heaviness doesn’t have to be all about toughness; it can also be vulnerable and unforgettable. Heavy metal, as we know it today, owes a lot to Ozzy Osbourne.
