All the Ways the 2025 MTV VMAs Honored Ozzy Osbourne After His Death

Just over a month after Ozzy Osbourne‘s death, the rocker was honored with various tributes at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Osbourne’s death was a major loss for the music community, so it makes sense that he was highlighted during the first music awards show following his July 22 death at the age of 76.

To kick off the night, Yungblud hit the red carpet wearing Osbourne’s own cross necklace. The artist went shirtless and had the cross on full display. Yungblud formed a close bond with Osbourne over the years, and the Black Sabbath singer gifted him the gold cross necklace after they filmed a music video in 2022.

“Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own,” Yungblud wrote on his Instagram after Osbourne’s death. He also added, “I didn’t think you would leave so soon the last time we met you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room.  But as it is written with legends, they seem to know the things that we don’t. I will never forget you – you will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage.”

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The VMAs also planned a performance tribute to Osbourne in which Yungblud would be joined by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Nuno Bettencourt to sing a medley of Osbourne’s biggest hits. Black Sabbath keyboardist Adam Wakeman was also chosen to be part of the performance, and Osbourne’s son Jack Osbourne appeared on a video alongside his children to introduce the tribute.

The songs performed included “Crazy Train,” “Changes,” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”

YUNGBLUD plays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the #VMAs 🖤 pic.twitter.com/A85tT9pKEB

— Variety (@Variety) September 8, 2025

Yungblud pays homage to Ozzy Osbourne at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/6Zpuzrk87P

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) September 8, 2025

BREATHTAKING! Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud e Nuno Bettencourt arrasaram no tributo a Ozzy Osbourne #VMAs pic.twitter.com/PqibbaYBuq

— Antenados (@canalantenados) September 8, 2025

Osbourne, who had been battling health issues for years, died of a heart attack, according to his death certificate. The official cause of death was “out of hospital cardiac arrest,” “acute myocardial infarction,” and “coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease with autonomic dysfunction,” per the New York Times.

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The VMAs also featured performances from Doja Cat, Ricky Martin, Tate McRae, and many more expected to take the stage throughout the show.

MTV Video Music Awards 2025, Sunday, September 7, 8/7c, MTV & CBS