Yungblud, the British alternative rock and hip hop artist whose real name is Dominic Harrison, has found himself at the center of rock’s global spotlight following a wave of Grammy nominations and emotional tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne. In a year marked by both celebration and loss, Yungblud’s ascent is not just a story of musical achievement, but of mentorship, legacy, and a new generation stepping onto the world stage.
On November 8, 2025, Sharon Osbourne, wife and longtime manager of the late Black Sabbath icon Ozzy Osbourne, took to Instagram to express her pride in Yungblud’s recent Grammy nods. Sharing a photograph of herself and Ozzy with the young star, she wrote, “I’m so proud of you. It’s just amazing and I know Ozzy is smiling down at you. Love you always, Sharon.” According to Billboard, Yungblud’s nominations include Best Rock Album for his record Idols, Best Rock Song for his single “Zombie,” and, perhaps most poignantly, Best Rock Performance for his stirring live rendition of Black Sabbath’s 1972 classic “Changes” at the band’s Back to the Beginning farewell show in July.
The performance at Villa Park, which would become a defining moment in Yungblud’s career, was a collaboration with some of rock’s heavyweights: Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, Anthrax’s Frank Bello, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, and Sleep Token’s enigmatic drummer II. The energy of the night was electric, but it was also bittersweet—Ozzy Osbourne died just 17 days after the event, at the age of 76.
Yungblud, who had been taken under the wing of the Osbourne family as early as 2022, was quick to share his gratitude and grief on social media. Posting a backstage photo with Ozzy from the final show, he wrote, “They’ve nominated ‘CHANGES at Villa Park’ for best rock performance at the Grammys, ‘IDOLS’ for best rock album and ‘ZOMBIE’ for best rock song. Thank you to you and your family for giving me the opportunity you did and your stage to show the world what I could do. Thank you for teaching us all how to dream and never compromise. From one madman from England to another, I love you OZ and I hope one day I can show you how much.”
The relationship between Yungblud and the Osbournes was more than professional. Backstage at the July farewell show, Ozzy was captured in a candid moment mentoring the younger artist. “You got the number one album out. Good for you. Conquer America next… Gotta conquer America. Just keep going. Don’t give in,” Ozzy advised, as reported by Billboard. Sharon Osbourne chimed in, encouraging him to “conquer the world.” Yungblud, brimming with ambition, confirmed that was indeed his plan.
The impact of Ozzy’s mentorship on Yungblud is evident not only in his words but in the keepsakes he carries. Yungblud continues to wear a necklace given to him by Ozzy—a memento he calls “the most precious thing I own.” After Ozzy’s death was announced, Yungblud posted another heartfelt tribute: “You will be in every single note I sing and with me every single time I walk on stage. Your cross around my neck is the most precious thing I own.”
The significance of Yungblud’s Grammy nominations has not gone unnoticed by the rock community. On November 10, 2025, Sammy Hagar, the former frontman of Van Halen, called Yungblud “the next superstar on this planet.” Speaking to NME, Hagar recounted seeing Yungblud’s performance of “Changes” at Ozzy’s farewell concert. “I saw him at Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning singing Changes and I became a huge fan overnight. He was on earlier than me and killed it. When he came offstage, I joked: ‘Hey dude, you can’t do that to an old guy like me! Have some respect!’” Hagar’s endorsement carries weight in a genre where respect is hard-won and rarely given lightly.
Yet, not all feedback has been glowing. Yungblud’s MTV VMAs tribute to Ozzy, which featured collaborations with Nuno Bettencourt and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, drew sharp criticism from The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins. Hawkins questioned the authenticity of Yungblud’s performance, particularly his use of real-time pitch correction, and suggested that the future of rock might be in jeopardy if such practices became the norm. “If the future of rock requires real-time pitch correction in a live environment rock is pretty f** isn’t it?” Hawkins mused on his YouTube channel.
Yungblud, never one to shy away from controversy, responded with characteristic fire on Jack Osbourne’s podcast, Trying Not To Die. “I think the strangest thing about that was all I was trying to do was my best for your old man, because he gave me such a gift. When people try and intellectualise a sense of spirit and six musicians on a stage going ‘f love you man’, it’s just bitter and jealous. They are doing the things they say we are doing—they’re trying to insert themselves into a conversation to obtain some kind of relevancy, on the back of us honouring one of the greatest rock stars that ever lived—and then they talk about authenticity and stuff like that.”
Jack Osbourne, Ozzy’s son, was quick to defend Yungblud and the authenticity of his relationship with his father. “These people didn’t f know how involved he was in Ozzy’s life. They don’t know the f story of it, the things we know, and I was kind of like, ‘F you dude’. Dom meant something to my dad, my dad meant something to Dom. I texted you the night of the gig and I said, ‘F****** crush it.’”
Despite the criticism, industry insiders and fans alike have rallied around Yungblud, praising his raw energy and ability to channel the spirit of rock’s past while forging a new path. His performance of “Changes” at Villa Park was widely regarded as a highlight of the Back to the Beginning show—a moment that managed to honor the legacy of Black Sabbath while offering a glimpse of the genre’s future. As Metal Injection noted, the song, though well-known, was rarely performed live by Sabbath or Ozzy, making Yungblud’s rendition all the more special.
Yungblud’s journey from protégé to Grammy-nominated artist is a testament to the enduring power of mentorship and the importance of passing the torch. With Sharon Osbourne’s public blessing, Sammy Hagar’s endorsement, and the support of the Osbourne family, Yungblud stands poised to “conquer America”—and perhaps the world—just as Ozzy once urged him to do.
As the 2026 Grammy Awards approach, the rock world watches with bated breath. For Yungblud, every note, every performance, and every accolade is a tribute to the man who showed him how to dream without compromise.
