Jack Osbourne’s Family Tribute to Ozzy at the VMAs Draws Emotional Response From His Ex-Wife

Summary

• Jack Osbourne and his four daughters introduced a VMAs tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, featuring Yungblud, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Nuno Bettencourt.
• Jack’s ex-wife Lisa Stelly reacted emotionally online, writing ‘I could watch this 500 times… my babies’ after seeing their children on stage.
• Ozzy died on July 22 at 76, just weeks after his final show with Black Sabbath in Birmingham at the Back to the Beginning concert.

When the MTV VMAs decided to honor Ozzy Osbourne after his death this July at age 76, his family was front and center. Jack Osbourne, joined by his four daughters, introduced a performance dedicated to the Black Sabbath icon.

The segment quickly turned into one of the night’s most heartfelt moments, and Jack’s ex-wife, Lisa Stelly, couldn’t hold back her emotions when she saw their kids take part.

The performance itself was a star-studded salute. Yungblud, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Nuno Bettencourt hit the stage to cover Ozzy’s legacy through music. Before they launched into the set, Jack and his girls appeared on screen with a short message about what their late patriarch meant to them.

“I know for sure it would make him incredibly happy to see these great musicians carry on his legacy and help inspire the next generation of rockers,” Jack said, visibly moved. “We love you, Dad.” His children Pearl (13), Andy (10), Minnie (7), and Maple (3) then echoed one of their grandfather’s favorite lines: “In the words of our papa, ‘Let’s go crazy!’”

Family on Stage

The clip was tender in ways that didn’t feel rehearsed. Pearl, the oldest, broke down in tears while her youngest sister, Maple, wrapped her arms around her in comfort.

For viewers it was a reminder that the “Prince of Darkness” was also just a grandfather known as Papa at home.

Jack shares Pearl, Andy, and Minnie with Lisa, whom he was married to for seven years until their 2019 divorce. Maple is his daughter with Aree Gearhart, who he married in 2022.

The mix of kids, ages three to thirteen, created a scene that felt as much about family as it did about rock history.

MTV posted the tribute on Instagram shortly after the broadcast. Lisa was quick to comment: “I could watch this 500 times… my babies.” Her response reflected both pride and grief.

Though no longer married to Jack, she’s remained close to the Osbourne family and shared her own tributes when Ozzy passed away.

Remembering Papa

Back in July, Lisa posted photos of Ozzy with his grandchildren alongside a caption that read: “The world got Ozzy. We got Papa. One of one. Larger than life. It hurts to say goodbye, but what a gift it was to have him. We will never stop missing you.”

Her words captured the double life Ozzy lived: heavy metal legend to millions, but simply Papa to his grandkids.

That family-first angle stood out even more after the VMAs moment, where the children’s message made the crowd cheer and left longtime fans misty-eyed.

Ozzy’s final public appearance happened just weeks before his death. On July 22, he reunited with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for one last show in Birmingham, fittingly called Back to the Beginning.

It was a symbolic full stop for Black Sabbath in their hometown. Days later, Ozzy was gone, with his family confirming he died surrounded by loved ones.

Jack’s Reflections

Jack has been open about the loss, though he admits the grief is still raw. After the funeral procession in Birmingham, he wrote online:

“I haven’t really wanted to post anything since the passing of my father. My heart has hurt too much. I’m gonna keep this short because he certainly hated long rambling speeches.”

He reflected on how many roles Ozzy played in people’s lives but kept the focus personal:

“He was so many things to so many people, but I was so lucky and blessed to be a part of a very small group that got to call him ‘Dad.’”

Jack even did the math: “I got 14,501 days with that man, and I know that is such a blessing.” It was an oddly specific number, but it underscored how deeply he’s been measuring his time since Ozzy’s death. He closed his note with a simple truth:

“That was my dad. He lived and he lived his life fully. I love you Dad.”

Legacy Lives On

The VMAs tribute may have only lasted a few minutes, but it managed to spotlight Ozzy’s cross-generational influence.

On one side, rock veterans like Tyler and Perry kept the music alive. On the other, Jack’s daughters reminded everyone that Ozzy’s family carries his memory forward in a way no arena could capture.

Lisa’s reaction added one more layer. Her kids were part of a public farewell that doubled as a private one.

And for once, Instagram comments cut straight through the noise. A mother watching her children grieve and celebrate their grandfather at the same time.

Ozzy’s death closed a chapter in heavy metal history.

For the Osbournes, it also reshaped everyday life. Yet as Jack’s kids proved on the VMAs stage, Papa’s voice isn’t going anywhere.

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