Following the devastating news of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing at age 76, the world paused to remember the Prince of Darkness — a pioneer of heavy metal, frontman of Black Sabbath, and one of the most recognizable and unpredictable figures in rock history. But beyond the chaos, the bat-biting headlines, and the raspy howl that defined a generation, Ozzy Osbourne was a father, a grandfather, and a deeply loved family man.
And in a moment that cut through the noise of celebrity tributes and media retrospectives, Lisa Stelly, the ex-wife of Ozzy’s son Jack Osbourne and mother to three of Ozzy’s grandchildren, shared something more intimate.
A legacy — reframed through the eyes of a family who loved him not as a legend, but as Papa.
“Love you, Papa,” Lisa wrote on Instagram, accompanying a carousel of rare, tender family footage. In the background played Ozzy’s own 1995 song “See You on the Other Side” — a hauntingly beautiful track now taking on a deeper meaning than ever before.
The Rock Star Who Was Also Grandpa
The images Lisa shared weren’t filtered, stylized, or rehearsed. They were raw, gentle, and quiet. In one video, Ozzy, white-haired and smiling, cradles a sleeping grandchild in his arms on a private jet. In another, he’s seen playing peek-a-boo at home, his face lighting up not from stage lights — but from the giggle of a toddler.
For fans who only knew him as the frontman of Sabbath or the unpredictable star of The Osbournes, Lisa’s tribute offered something rare: a glimpse into the soft center of a man so often misunderstood.
And it clearly struck a nerve. Within hours, the post was flooded with comments from fellow parents, longtime fans, and those mourning not just a musician — but the idea that even the wildest souls can be tender in private.
Lisa, known for maintaining a relatively low profile after her divorce from Jack, rarely shares personal family content. That she chose to do so now — in such an emotionally transparent way — was a testament to just how deeply Ozzy impacted her and her children’s lives.
“He may have been a rock god to the world,” one commenter wrote, “but to them, he was just Grandpa. That’s the legacy that matters most.”
Jack Osbourne’s Tribute: A Son’s Perspective
Lisa’s tribute followed that of Jack Osbourne, who shared a powerful message on his own social media accounts earlier in the week.
“My dad was many things — funny, unique, powerful, frustrating, brilliant. But above all, he was ours. And he loved us, and we loved him. I will miss him every day of my life.”
Jack went on to say that while the world would remember Ozzy for his music, his “most profound moments were quiet — dinners, birthdays, late-night advice, or just sitting in the garden with his grandkids climbing all over him.”
Ozzy’s grandchildren, still very young, will grow up hearing stories of their grandfather’s stage antics, the fame, the legend. But through Lisa and Jack’s memories, they’ll also know the man who made silly voices during bedtime stories, or who insisted on being called Papa instead of anything more traditional.
The Final Years: Health Struggles and a Private Goodbye
Ozzy’s later years were marked by declining health. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019 and enduring multiple surgeries for spine and neck issues, he stepped back from touring and public appearances. Yet, even as his physical body gave way, his spirit — by all accounts — remained intact.
He made his final live appearance during Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in 2017. There was talk of more shows, another tour, even another album. But in private, Ozzy focused on family.
“He knew the end was coming,” said a family spokesperson. “But he faced it on his own terms — surrounded by Sharon, the kids, and the grandkids he adored.”
His death on July 22, 2025, was confirmed through an official family statement. “Ozzy passed peacefully at home, surrounded by love,” it read. “He gave everything to the world. But his final years were for us — his family.”
Legacy Beyond the Stage
There’s no doubt Ozzy Osbourne changed music. He helped invent a genre. He shocked, entertained, and inspired millions. But what’s perhaps more surprising — and enduring — is how deeply he impacted the people closest to him.
Lisa Stelly’s tribute wasn’t just about grief. It was about gratitude. Gratitude for the quiet moments, for the laughter shared in kitchens instead of arenas, for a grandfather who made room in his chaotic world for sticky fingers and bedtime hugs.
It reminded the world that icons are people, too — and sometimes the most extraordinary thing they leave behind isn’t art or fame, but love.
A Song, a Caption, a Farewell
As “See You on the Other Side” echoed beneath Lisa’s post, fans noted the eerie poetry in the lyrics Ozzy wrote decades earlier:
“Voices echo in my head / Is it true what they said? / Every time I cry / I try to hold on to the past.”
It’s as if the man who once ruled the stage knew — in his bones — that memory would outlive noise. That love would outlast fame.
And through the eyes of his grandchildren, and those who loved him off-stage, Ozzy’s softer legacy will carry on.
Not just as a Prince of Darkness.
But as Papa.
Forever missed. Forever loved.