Kelly Osbourne has publicly thanked the city of Birmingham for a poignant tribute to her late father, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. Her words followed a private ceremony where the city posthumously honoured one of its most famous sons.
A Heartfelt Ceremony and Civic Honour
The emotional event saw Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Ken Wood, present the prestigious Lord Mayor's Award to Ozzy Osbourne's family. This award is one of Birmingham's highest civic honours, recognising those whose achievements have significantly shaped the city.
In a moving gesture, the ceremony was held on December 3, which would have been Ozzy Osbourne's birthday. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, also presented the Osbourne family with Books of Condolence, signed by hundreds of thousands of admirers.
'Birmingham Has Done Him Proud'
Speaking after the ceremony, Kelly Osbourne shared her family's profound gratitude. "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," 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," Kelly continued. "The one thing my father was most proud of was that he was a Brummie, and Birmingham has done him proud."
A Lasting Legacy for a Working Class Hero
Born and raised in Aston, Ozzy Osbourne's journey from a working-class childhood to global superstardom with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist remains a source of immense local pride. His staggering career achievements include:
- Selling over 100 million records worldwide.
- Winning five Grammy Awards.
- Being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, a feat shared by only 27 artists.
The city's enduring affection was further evidenced by the popularity of his 'Working Class Hero' exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which has attracted almost 400,000 visitors since July. This tribute follows Ozzy and his Black Sabbath bandmates being granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham in July last year.
The Osbourne family stated they were deeply moved, grateful to see how much Ozzy still means to the city he always called home. Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal MBE reflected this sentiment, saying Ozzy would forever be remembered as "a proud and much missed son of Birmingham."
