The world has been left stunned at the news that 76-year-old rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has died. It seems unimaginable, if not for the statement released by his family.
“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,” the statement posted by TMZ read. “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
The message was signed by wife Sharon Osbourne, and four of his children: Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis. He and Sharon have been together for 45 years, but have known each other even longer than that. While Ozzy’s death seems impossible to his fans, we can only imagine the pain his surviving spouse is enduring.
They Met When She Was Just a Teenager
An 18-year-old Sharon met Ozzy in 1970 when her father, Don Arden, was managing Ozzy’s band, Black Sabbath. When he was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1980 because of his drug addiction, she stepped in to help him as a friend and became his manager. That year, he released the hit song “Crazy Train” as a solo artist and also began dating Sharon, despite still being married to Thelma Riley.
Two years later, he and Sharon got married on July 4, 1982, in Hawaii, just months after he and Thelma divorced. They welcomed their daughter, Aimee, in 1983, followed by Kelly in 1984, and Jack in 1985.
In 1989, Ozzy was arrested for attempted murder — of Sharon. She told The Guardian in 2001 that “He was totally insane from all the drink and drugs he was doing, and well, these things happen.” Sharon opted not to press charges, and Ozzy went to rehab for three months to get sober.
In 2002, they became the first reality family when their show, “The Osbournes,” premiered on MTV. The show featured Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack, while Aimee opted not to appear. Running for four seasons, it was the most-watched series ever on MTV when it aired. The success of the show catapulted the whole family into the spotlight.
In 2013, the couple began dodging rumors that they were splitting up.
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