OZZY OSBOURNE’s Sister Shares the Heartbreaking Last Text Message From the Rock Legend Before His Death at 76

Ozzy Osbourne’s sister has spoken out about the emotional final message she received from her brother just before his death at age 76.

Jean Powell, 85, revealed that the Black Sabbath frontman sent her a touching text on the night of his last concert, only weeks before he passed away. Ozzy died at his home in Buckinghamshire, England, surrounded by family.

Ozzy, whose real name was John Michael Osbourne, had reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates for a final performance at Villa Park in Birmingham. The show, called Back to the Beginning, was a farewell event that brought more than 42,000 fans together to celebrate a band that helped define heavy metal.

A Message from the Heart

Jean shared that she received a text from Ozzy as he drove past Lodge Road, near where they grew up.

“He said he couldn’t believe all the crowds were walking down our old street to watch him perform,” she told The Mirror. “He was blown away.”

The message struck a chord. It was a full-circle moment for a man who started life in modest surroundings and ended it onstage in front of thousands. That final drive through their childhood neighborhood was packed with emotion.

Jean described the concert as overwhelming. She and her sister Gillian Hemming, 80, watched from an executive box in the stadium.

“When I saw the sea of people waiting to see our John, I just broke down,” Jean recalled.

The last text from Ozzy ended with a hopeful note: “I can’t wait to come back.”

They had been expecting to see him again soon.

Remembering “Our John”

To fans, he was the “Prince of Darkness.” To his sisters, he was just John, funny, loyal, and always checking in.

“Every week without fail he would get in touch, either by phone or text, to ask how we were all doing and what was going on,” Jean said.

His death came as a shock. Despite his health struggles, his family believed he still had more time.

“He was frail, but it still came as a shock,” Jean added. “He still had plans and things he wanted to do.”

The news came via a phone call. The sisters stayed up all night, reminiscing about his life, from the boy who used to joke around at home to the global music icon he became.

“To us, he was our brother, not a celebrity,” Jean said. “So it’s crazy to see the outpouring of love since his death was announced.”

Gillian added, “We were proud as punch about him and everything he achieved. But it never went to his head. What the public saw of John was exactly what he was like in real life. It wasn’t an act.”

The Final Days

Ozzy had long been battling health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and complications from past accidents. He had undergone multiple surgeries, including a fourth spinal operation in 2023. Still, he hoped to keep recording music.

“For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me,” he told Metal Hammer last year. “It’s very important.”

His last album, Patient Number 9, was released in 2022 and featured artists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready.

During his final moments on July 23, an air ambulance was dispatched to his country estate. Emergency crews attempted to save his life for nearly two hours, but were unsuccessful. Ozzy passed away shortly after, surrounded by his wife Sharon and their children.

The family released a statement confirming his death:

“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”

Ozzy is survived by Sharon and his six children: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack from his marriage to Sharon; Jessica and Louis from his first marriage to Thelma Riley; and Elliot, whom he adopted.

A Legacy of Music and Humor

Ozzy made it clear he didn’t want a traditional funeral. He wanted a celebration.

“There’ll be no harping on the bad times,” he told The Times in 2011. “I want it to be a time to say ‘thanks’.”

He even joked that his funeral music could include a mashup of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle, and We Are the Diddymen, as long as it made people smile.

But later, he did offer one serious request: A Day in the Life by The Beatles.

“I definitely don’t want my f@#$%! greatest hits album,” he told NME in 2016. “I never ever play that thing. I’m f@#$%! embarrassed about it.”

Ozzy credited The Beatles with inspiring him to become a musician. He became a lifelong fan after hearing She Loves You in the 1960s.

He told his sisters he wanted to come back to Birmingham. Sadly, that visit will never happen, but his final message, his final show, and his final words onstage left a lasting memory.

As fireworks lit up the Birmingham sky after the last notes faded, the screen behind Ozzy read:

“Thank you for everything. You guys are f@#$%! amazing. Birmingham Forever.”

And with that, the curtain came down on a career that changed music history, but stayed rooted in family, humor, and the streets of Birmingham.

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