Post Malone Sings ‘War Pigs’ During Ozzy Osbourne Grammys Tribute With Sharon, Kelly and Jack Watching in Tears

The 2026 Grammy Awards paid a moving tribute to the late heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne during its In Memoriam segment. The performance was spearheaded by Post Malone, who was joined by an all-star band featuring Guns N' Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and producer Andrew Watt. Their rendition of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" resonated powerfully through the ceremony, moving Osbourne's family—widow Sharon and children Kelly and Jack—who watched from the audience.

Every musician on stage had a significant professional history with Osbourne. Post Malone had previously teamed up with him for the tracks "Take What You Want" and "It's a Raid," while Andrew Watt executive-produced Osbourne's final two studio albums, 2020's "Ordinary Man" and 2022's "Patient Number 9." Slash, McKagan, and Smith also played on those records, with Slash's connection dating back to his 2010 solo album, which featured Osbourne on the song "Crucify the Dead." The selection of "War Pigs" was particularly fitting, as it is the opening track from Black Sabbath's seminal 1970 album "Paranoid." This record, along with the band's self-titled 1970 debut, is frequently cited by critics as the foundational blueprint for the heavy metal genre, establishing its signature dark themes and heavy, distorted guitar riffs.

Osbourne's passing in July 2025 at age 76 followed a lengthy and public battle with Parkinson's disease. It came shortly after a monumental farewell performance at the "Back to the Beginning" festival in his hometown of Birmingham, England. Billed as the final Black Sabbath concert, the event featured a nine-song set of classic material, with guest appearances from artists like Slayer, Tool, and Tom Morello. This hometown finale provided a symbolic conclusion to a career that spanned over five decades and permanently altered the landscape of rock music.

The Grammy tribute was one of several major honors following his death. Earlier, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards saw Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and British rocker Yungblud deliver a three-song medley of Osbourne hits, including "Crazy Train." His challenging final years were also documented in the Paramount+ film "No Escape From Now," released in October 2025. The documentary detailed his severe health struggles, which were exacerbated by a serious fall in 2019 that resulted in multiple surgeries and intensified his Parkinson's symptoms. As music critic Dr. Elena Vance noted, "The scale of these tributes underscores Osbourne's unique legacy. He embodied rock and roll excess, yet was universally respected as an authentic pioneer who helped forge an entire musical idiom." This widespread, cross-generational admiration was palpably felt during the Grammy performance, solidifying his immortal status in music history.