As a life-long super fan, I‘m thrilled to provide this in-depth introduction to the one and only Sharon Osbourne – the fiery, outspoken Queen of Reality TV!
| Full Name | Sharon Rachel Osbourne |
|---|---|
| Birthday | October 9, 1952 (age 70) |
| Birth Place | London, England |
| Height | 5‘ 2" |
| Spouse | Ozzy Osbourne (m. 1982) |
| Children | Aimee, Kelly, Jack |
| Known For | The Osbournes, The Talk, The X Factor |
| Net Worth | $220 million |
| Social Media | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram |
Sharon has been a trailblazing force in the entertainment industry for over 40 years. As a music manager, reality TV pioneer, talent show judge and talk show host, Sharon‘s impact on pop culture simply can‘t be overstated. Her fearless personality and unfiltered honesty have made her a true icon. Let‘s dive into the wild ride that is Sharon Osbourne‘s remarkable life!
Humble Beginnings to Managing Ozzy‘s Solo Career
While Sharon didn‘t come from a traditionally privileged background, she quickly became a major power player in the music business. Sharon‘s father, Don Arden, was an influential music manager and agent who shaped the careers of legendary artists like Little Richard, Jet Harris and ELO.
As a teen, Sharon began working for her father as a receptionist. It was through him that 19-year-old Sharon met Black Sabbath lead singer Ozzy Osbourne in the early 1970s. As she later said, it was love at first sight – she was immediately drawn to Ozzy‘s "childlike sense of humor and adventure."
After dating secretly for some time, Sharon and Ozzy married on July 4, 1982 in Maui, Hawaii. She quickly took the reins of managing Ozzy‘s solo career after he was controversially fired from Black Sabbath in 1979.
With Sharon‘s keen business savvy, she helped rebrand Ozzy as a successful solo artist with acclaimed albums like 1980‘s Blizzard of Ozz and 1981‘s Diary of a Madman. Under her guidance, Ozzy became known as the legendary "Godfather of Metal."
From Humble Beginnings to Global Stardom
Of course, Ozzy‘s notoriously wild rockstar lifestyle put a strain on their relationship over the years. As revealed in the 2020 biopic The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon was often left alone to raise their children during Ozzy‘s reckless drug and alcohol-fueled tours.
However, Sharon remained fiercely dedicated to supporting her husband‘s career. When Ozzy‘s fame was waning in the late 1990s, it was Sharon‘s genius idea to launch the reality show The Osbournes in 2002.
Filming inside their family‘s mansion, The Osbournes provided an intimate, no-holds-barred look at the mayhem of everyday life inside the Osbourne household. With humor and heart, Sharon, Ozzy and their children Kelly and Jack became unlikely reality TV stars.
The show was an instant cultural phenomenon, skyrocketing Sharon into global fame. Over 52 episodes spanning four seasons, fans tuned in weekly to see Sharon‘s legendary witty one-liners and her honest interactions with her family.
In my view, Sharon was always the true star of The Osbournes. As a mother struggling to wrangle her reckless husband and rebellious kids, Sharon was the relatable heart and soul of the show. Her resilience in the face of obstacles showed her tremendous inner strength.
Judging Talent Competitions & Hosting Talk Shows
After the monumental success of The Osbournes, Sharon easily transitioned into becoming a judge on a string of top-rated talent competition shows. From 2004 to 2007, she was a judge on the UK show The X Factor.
Sharon returned to the judges table from 2008 through 2017, serving as the only constant judge during the show‘s 15 season run. She mentored future superstars like Leona Lewis, guiding hopefuls to victory with her signature wit and wisdom.
Stateside, Sharon served as America‘s Got Talent judge from 2007 to 2012 alongside personalities like Piers Morgan and Howard Stern. In the 2010s, she resumed judging AGT from seasons 9 through 13, bringing her signature sharp criticisms and words of encouragement.
In addition to these judging stints, Sharon also co-hosted the popular CBS daytime series The Talk from 2010 to 2011, returning as host from 2013 to the present. With open discussions ranging from current issues to her own life, Sharon connected with viewers through her trademark candor and sincerity.
While juggling these TV roles, Sharon also published several bestselling memoirs, including Extreme in 2005 and Survivor in 2013. Always forthright, she shared untold stories about her incredible life and relationship with Ozzy in honest detail.
Tireless Advocacy for Cancer Research
Amidst a bustling TV career, Sharon has always made time for activism and charity work. One cause especially close to her heart is cancer research. After successfully battling colon cancer in 2002, Sharon founded the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
The program provides vital screenings, treatment and emotional support for those at high risk for colon cancer. In honor of Sharon‘s tireless advocacy, Cedars Sinai also hosts the annual Ozzy Osbourne Colon Cancer Awareness Concert.
Sharon frequently holds charity drives for cancer causes and has raised millions through her annual Black Tie and Boots Ball before the Oscars. She also started the Sharon Osbourne Cancer Awareness Campaign in Ireland after battling cancer herself.
Through her own high-profile story, Sharon has helped save countless lives by encouraging early screening and greater public understanding of cancer.
Recent Endeavors Fit for a Queen
Now in her early 70s, the legendary Sharon shows no signs of slowing down. She continues to be in demand as a judge and guest host on major reality shows, from The Masked Singer UK to Dancing with the Stars. Sharon‘s 2021 BBC documentary Sharon Osbourne: To Hell & Back gave an intimate look at her lifelong mental health journey.
On a personal level, Sharon remains devoted to Ozzy after 40 years of marriage. She supports Ozzy as he lives with Parkinson‘s disease diagnosed in 2020. True love and laughter seem to keep their relationship young.
With decades of groundbreaking accomplishments under her belt, Sharon Osbourne reigns supreme as a pop culture queen. She has truly lived a thousand lives over her 70+ years. Through it all, Sharon remains an outspoken, hilariously candid and inspiring role model for women from all walks of life. I will forever be in awe of her tenacity, kindness and showbiz magic!
