He was the Prince of Darkness on stage, but behind closed doors, Ozzy Osbourne was simply “Papa.”
Just days after the legendary rocker’s sudden death at 76, a touching set of never-before-seen photos have emerged — capturing the quiet, loving moments he shared with his grandchildren in the final weeks of his life. The images were shared by Lisa Stelly, the ex-wife of Ozzy’s son Jack, who paid tribute to the man she knew not as a heavy metal icon, but as a doting grandfather.
“The World Got Ozzy — We Got Papa”
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Lisa wrote:
“The world got Ozzy. We got Papa. One of one. Larger than life. It hurts to say goodbye, but what a gift it was to have him. We will never stop missing you.”
Lisa and Jack, who were married from 2012 to 2019, share three daughters: Pearl (13), Andy (10), and Minnie (7). Jack also shares a younger daughter, Maple (3), with his current wife, fashion designer Aree Gearhart, whom he married in 2023.
Though her marriage to Jack ended years ago, Lisa’s bond with Ozzy clearly endured. The candid photos she shared paint a deeply human portrait of a man the world mostly knew in eyeliner, leather, and stage chaos.
A Grandfather Like No Other
The snapshots show Ozzy in rare, tender moments:
Holding little Pearl with a soft smile as she clutches a flower
Carrying a giggling granddaughter on his shoulders, pulling his trademark “monster face”
Letting one baby granddaughter stick her fingers in his mouth, clearly amused
Resting on a bed while cooing at a child about to plant a kiss on his cheek
Sitting beside Lisa outdoors, yawning contentedly after what looked like a family dinner in the tropics
Far from the wild persona that defined his career, these photos reveal a man relaxed, affectionate, and deeply connected to the people he loved most.
More Than a Rock Star
Ozzy’s love for animals also made a quiet appearance in Lisa’s tribute. In one video clip, her cat is curled up peacefully on his chest while he jokes, “She’s a good-looking vermin.”
It’s that kind of offbeat charm that made Ozzy beloved far beyond the world of rock and metal — though it didn’t stop PETA from catching flak for its tribute to his love of animals. Fans were quick to remind the organization of the infamous 1982 moment when Ozzy bit the head off a bat on stage.
To his credit, Ozzy had long expressed regret about the incident, claiming he believed the bat was a rubber prop tossed by a fan. “Whatever else I do,” he once said, “my epitaph will be: ‘Born December 3, 1948. Died, whenever. And he bit the head off a bat.’”
A Life Beyond the Headlines
Lisa also included a photo of herself bonding with Ozzy — a reminder that, even through the complexities of divorce and fame, family remained central to the final chapters of his life.
Her post comes as many fans reflect on Ozzy’s remarkable transformation: from wild rock frontman to gentle grandfather — from “Prince of Darkness” to a man who found peace in painting with grandkids and storytimes on the couch.
