'Birmingham has done my father proud': Kelly Osbourne thanks city after private ceremony
Kelly Osbourne expresses gratitude after Birmingham's tribute to her father, Ozzy Osbourne, at a private ceremony.
Speaking after the private ceremony held in Birmingham to honour the life and legacy of her father, Ozzy Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne spoke with open gratitude.
She thanked the city not only for the way it welcomed her family, but for the love it had shown Ozzy throughout his life and again in his passing.
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“I want to take a second to thank the people of Birmingham for not only showing my family so much love, but for showing up for my father. This made him the happiest man in the world,” she said.
“Today we got to see the book of condolences that was signed by hundreds of thousands of people. It is beyond our wildest dreams. The one thing my father was most proud of was that he was a Brummie, and Birmingham has done him proud.”
Birmingham paid tribute to one of its most iconic sons with a heartfelt gathering where the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Ken Wood, posthumously presented the Lord Mayor’s Award to Ozzy Osbourne. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, also presented the Books of Condolence to the family. The award was accepted on December 3, Ozzy’s birthday.
The Lord Mayor’s Award is one of Birmingham’s highest civic honours, recognising individuals whose achievements or service have shaped the city. Ozzy’s influence on Birmingham’s cultural and musical identity made him a fitting recipient.
Born and raised in Aston, Ozzy rose from a working class childhood to global stardom with Black Sabbath and later as a solo artist. He sold more than 100 million records, earned five Grammys, and is one of only twenty seven artists ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Almost four hundred thousand people have visited his Working Class Hero exhibit at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery since July, a sign of the city’s lasting affection.
Ozzy was also granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham last July alongside the original members of Black Sabbath ahead of their farewell Back to the Beginning concert.
The Osbourne family said they were deeply moved by the tribute, grateful to see how much Ozzy still means to the city he loved.
The Lord Mayor said Ozzy would always be remembered as a proud and much missed son of Birmingham. “Having achieved worldwide success, he never forgot his Brummie roots, so I am honoured to present the award to his family in a fitting tribute to everything he has done for our city. Ozzy forever.”