You’ve seen the headlines. Maybe you saw a cryptic social media post or a "RIP Ozzy" trending topic that made your heart skip a beat. Honestly, it’s the question that has been haunting rock fans for months: is Ozzy Osbourne dead today? The short, heartbreaking answer is yes. John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and the undisputed "Prince of Darkness," passed away on July 22, 2025. He was 76 years old.
It feels weird to even write that. For decades, Ozzy seemed invincible. He survived plane crashes, ATV accidents, legendary amounts of substance abuse, and even a "mutant" genetic makeup that scientists literally studied to see how he was still alive. But in the end, his body finally had enough.
The Final Curtain in Birmingham
What makes this whole thing so bittersweet is how it ended. Just 17 days before he died, Ozzy did the impossible. On July 5, 2025, he took the stage one last time in his hometown of Birmingham, England.
It was called the "Back to the Beginning" concert. He wasn't running around like he did in '83. He performed much of the set from a massive, ornate black throne because his Parkinson’s and spinal injuries had made it nearly impossible for him to walk. But his voice? People who were there say it was hauntingly perfect. He reunited with the original Black Sabbath lineup for the final few songs, and the footage of them playing "Paranoid" for the last time is basically the most emotional thing you’ll ever see in metal.
✨ Don't miss: Brooklyn and Bailey Nose Job: What Really Happened with Those Plastic Surgery Rumors
What was the actual cause of death?
There’s been a lot of "he said, she said" online, but the official coroner's report and family statements cleared things up. Ozzy died at his home in Buckinghamshire, England, surrounded by Sharon, Jack, Kelly, and the rest of the family.
The primary cause was an acute myocardial infarction (a heart attack) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Look, his health had been a mess for a long time. You can’t talk about his passing without mentioning the Parkinson’s disease (PRKN 2) he battled publicly since 2020. That, combined with a severe fall in 2019 that required multiple spinal surgeries, had left him in chronic pain. Sharon later shared on The Osbournes Podcast that he also struggled with pneumonia and sepsis in the months leading up to that final July show. Basically, he used every last ounce of his life force to get on that stage one more time for the fans.
🔗 Read more: Bobby Sherman Health Update: What Really Happened to the Teen Idol
Why the "Is He Dead" Rumors Kept Swirling
If he died in July 2025, why are people still searching for "is Ozzy Osbourne dead today" in 2026?
It's the "Elvis effect." People don't want to believe he's gone. Plus, the Osbourne family has stayed very active in keeping his memory alive, which sometimes confuses the casual scroller.
- The Biopic News: Just recently, in January 2026, Jack Osbourne confirmed that the long-awaited Ozzy biopic is officially moving forward with Sony Pictures. They’ve apparently cast a "phenomenal" actor to play Ozzy (though the name is still under wraps).
- Posthumous Releases: His memoir, Last Rites, was published in October 2025 and hit the bestseller lists immediately.
- The Documentary: The Paramount+ doc No Escape from Now was released late last year, showing the brutal reality of his final months. Seeing him "alive" on screen makes people wonder if the news was just another celebrity death hoax.
The Reality of His Health Battles
Ozzy was always "sorta" open about how much it sucked to get old. In his final interviews, he’d complain about his feet feeling like they were wearing "diving boots" because of the nerve damage. He underwent seven surgeries in five years. That’s enough to break anyone.
💡 You might also like: Blair Underwood First Wife: What Really Happened with Desiree DaCosta
Yet, he never lost that Birmingham wit. He told Billy Morrison on SiriusXM just months before the end: "I may be moaning that I can't walk, but I look down the road and there's people that didn't do half as much as me and didn't make it." He knew he was on borrowed time.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re feeling the sting of losing a legend, here is how you can actually honor the man without falling for more clickbait:
- Watch the Birmingham Footage: If you haven't seen the clips from the July 5, 2025, farewell show, find them. It’s the definitive "full stop" on his career.
- Ignore the Hoaxes: If you see a "breaking news" link saying Ozzy died today, check the date. The world lost him in July 2025. Anything else is just people fishing for clicks.
- Listen to 'Patient Number 9': His final studio work is genuinely some of his best late-career material. It’s better than it has any right to be.
- Keep an Eye on the Biopic: With Jack and Sharon producing, it’s likely going to be a raw, unfiltered look at his life rather than a polished Hollywood version.
Ozzy didn't want a "hidden chapter" or a "comprehensive overview." He wanted to be remembered as a guy from Birmingham who had a great life and played some loud-as-hell music. He did exactly that.