Sharon Osbourne has revealed that an unexpected trip to hospital forced her to miss the unveiling of a towering statue created in honour of her late husband, Ozzy Osbourne.
The 73-year-old television personality had been expected to attend the emotional tribute at the Hellfest heavy metal festival in France this week.
However, Sharon was noticeably absent when the dramatic 20-foot sculpture of the Black Sabbath legend was officially revealed to fans.
Returning to social media after the event, she explained that she had required hospital treatment earlier in the week and was therefore unable to travel.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be at Hellfest for the unveiling of Ozzy’s statue,” Sharon wrote.
“Unfortunately, I had an unexpected trip to the hospital earlier in the week.”
She did not share any further details about the reason for the visit or whether she had been admitted overnight.
Sharon instead focused her message on thanking the organisers and artist responsible for creating the striking memorial.
“A big thank you Olivier Garnier, Ben Barbaud and everyone at Hellfest,” she continued.
“Special thank you to Philippe Pasqua for the absolutely stunning statue.”
The artwork shows Ozzy with both arms raised triumphantly above his head, capturing the unmistakable stage pose that became familiar to generations of rock fans.
It was installed against a stone and brick arch bearing the name of the French festival, where thousands of heavy metal devotees had gathered.
The imposing sculpture stands approximately 20 feet tall and celebrates Ozzy’s extraordinary influence on rock music.
Sharon’s absence was especially poignant because she had spent more than four decades managing, supporting and building a family with the musician.
Ozzy died aged 76 in July 2025 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease and several other serious health problems.
His death came shortly after an emotional farewell performance in his home city of Birmingham.
The concert brought Ozzy together with his original Black Sabbath bandmates for one final appearance and was attended by fans from around the world.
Although his physical condition had deteriorated, the singer was determined to take part and say goodbye to the audience that had supported him throughout his career.
The event sold out and raised millions for charity.
All proceeds were donated to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice.
The decision reflected Ozzy and Sharon’s long-standing connection to Birmingham and their desire to use the final concert to support people facing serious illness.
Ozzy had publicly discussed the challenges of Parkinson’s and the effect it had on his ability to walk, perform and live independently.
Sharon remained closely involved in his care throughout the illness while continuing to speak hopefully about his condition.
Following his death, she has been adjusting to life without the man she repeatedly described as her soulmate.
The Hellfest statue is one of several tributes celebrating Ozzy’s legacy as both the frontman of Black Sabbath and a successful solo performer.
With songs including Paranoid, Iron Man and War Pigs, Black Sabbath helped shape the sound and visual identity of heavy metal.
Ozzy’s unpredictable stage presence and distinctive voice later carried him into a hugely successful solo career.
His cultural influence extended beyond music when the family opened their home to television cameras for the MTV reality series The Osbournes.
The programme followed Ozzy and Sharon’s domestic life in Los Angeles with their children Kelly and Jack.
It became an international phenomenon after launching in 2002 and transformed the family into reality-television royalty.
Viewers saw a completely different side of the so-called Prince of Darkness as he struggled with household technology, family arguments and the chaos created by their numerous pets.
Sharon’s sharp humour and commanding personality made her a star in her own right.
She later became a judge on The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, building a television career separate from her role as Ozzy’s manager.
The couple’s marriage endured addiction, serious illness, professional pressures and periods of separation.
Despite those difficulties, they repeatedly reunited and remained together until Ozzy’s death.
Sharon has continued overseeing her late husband’s estate and musical legacy while considering major changes to her own living arrangements.
She recently placed the Los Angeles mansion they shared on the market for a reported $17 million, equivalent to approximately £13 million.
Reports have suggested that she intends to move into an apartment rather than maintain the large property.
The sale represents another emotional step as Sharon reorganises her life following her husband’s death.
She still owns the family’s Grade II-listed Georgian mansion in Buckinghamshire, where Ozzy is understood to have been laid to rest.
The English estate had become increasingly important to the couple during the final years of his life.
Ozzy had repeatedly expressed his desire to leave Los Angeles and return permanently to Britain.
He said he wanted to spend his remaining years in the country where he was born and close to the familiar surroundings of Buckinghamshire.
The family are now reportedly hoping to buy back the Beverly Hills mansion where The Osbournes was filmed during the early 2000s.
The property became almost as famous as the family themselves, appearing throughout the MTV programme’s most memorable scenes.
Recovering the house would allow them to preserve an important piece of their shared history and television legacy.
Ozzy’s surviving earnings and estate are understood to have passed to his family, who remain involved in decisions surrounding his music, image and possessions.
Sharon has also announced plans to bring back Ozzfest, the travelling heavy metal festival originally launched by the family in 1996.
The festival helped introduce younger bands to enormous audiences while providing an important touring platform for established metal performers.
Its return would continue Ozzy’s commitment to supporting the genre he helped create.
Sharon has indicated that Ozzfest will return in 2027, though complete details of the proposed line-up and locations have yet to be announced.
Reviving the event would represent one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the family since Ozzy’s death.
The statue at Hellfest similarly ensures that his presence remains visible within the global metal community.
Fans gathered around the sculpture following its unveiling, photographing the enormous likeness and sharing tributes online.
For Sharon, being unable to witness that moment personally will likely have been deeply disappointing.
Her hospital visit appears to have happened without warning, giving her little choice but to remain away from the French festival.
She did not disclose whether she was still receiving treatment or had fully recovered.
The lack of detail means it would be inappropriate to speculate about the nature or seriousness of her condition.
Her decision to return to social media and publicly thank the festival suggested that her immediate focus was reassuring organisers and acknowledging their efforts.
It also demonstrated how closely she continues to monitor every tribute connected to Ozzy.
Since his death, Sharon has faced the difficult task of grieving privately while responding to intense public interest.
Millions of fans around the world feel emotionally connected to Ozzy, but his loss was first and foremost a personal tragedy for his wife and children.
Every statue, concert anniversary and planned festival carries both pride and pain for the family.
Sharon has frequently defended Ozzy’s reputation and ensured that his achievements are remembered accurately.
She managed crucial stages of his solo career after his dismissal from Black Sabbath and played an important role in transforming him into an international star.
The couple first met when Sharon’s father, music manager Don Arden, was working with Black Sabbath.
Their professional relationship eventually became romantic, and they married in 1982.
Together, they built an entertainment empire while raising three children: Aimee, Kelly and Jack.
Ozzy also had three children from his previous marriage.
The singer’s death ended one of rock music’s longest and most turbulent partnerships.
Sharon’s decision to sell their Los Angeles home and move into a smaller property reflects the practical and emotional changes she now faces.
At the same time, her efforts to restore Ozzfest and preserve significant family properties suggest that she is determined to protect what they created together.
The Hellfest monument will provide fans with a permanent place to celebrate Ozzy’s contribution to music.
Standing with his arms raised above the festival grounds, the sculpture presents him as many people remember him: commanding a crowd and inviting them to make more noise.
Although Sharon could not be there for the unveiling, her message made clear how much the tribute meant to her.
She offered no dramatic explanation of her hospital visit and made no attempt to shift attention away from Ozzy.
Instead, she apologised for her absence and praised those who had worked to honour him.
Her health remains a private matter unless she chooses to disclose more.
For now, supporters will be relieved that she was well enough to communicate with them following the unexpected hospital trip.
The statue, meanwhile, stands as another lasting reminder that Ozzy Osbourne’s influence did not end with his death.
Sharon may have missed its unveiling, but the extraordinary tribute ensures her husband will continue towering over the festival world he helped inspire for generations to come.
