Sharon Osbourne has shared her approval after hundreds of fans dressed up as Ozzy for this year’s Mardi Gras. Check out the footage below.
- READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne, 1948-2025: culture-smashing revolutionary that redefined rock and reality TV
The 2026 edition of the annual parade took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, yesterday (Tuesday February 17).
A video on social media shows a group called the Dead Rock Stars marching through the city during the Krewe Of Muses parade last Thursday (February 12). The participants are seen wearing Ozzy’s iconic round glasses, and donning long dark wigs, crucifix jewellery and black clothing.
There is also a flame-emblazoned float in tribute to the late Prince Of Darkness, as well as some banners. In the clip, we can hear Ozzy’s 1991 ballad ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ playing out over a soundsystem in the street.
The Grand Marshal was someone dressed as Sharon on board the float.
More than 200 fans dressed as Ozzy Osbourne paraded through New Orleans for Mardi Gras — honoring the Prince of Darkness in true larger-than-life fashion.
Now imagine this…
July 22nd.
— THIS DAY IN METAL (@ThisDayInMETAL) February 16, 2026
According to Loudwire, Ozzy’s widow and former manager Sharon showed her appreciation of the nod by sharing a video from the event on her Instagram Stories feed.
The Dead Rock Stars’ Facebook page states that the group comprises an all-male dance crew that assembles once a year for the Muses parade during Mardi Gras. They choose a different late rock star to honour at each edition.
“We may not be the 610 Stompers, but we bring the energy, the moves, and a little whiskey to keep the party going. Rock in peace, dance in style!” they wrote on the event listing.
BBC News reported that more than 200 people took to the streets to pay homage to Ozzy in New Orleans last week. Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Stephen Rea – a friend of the icon’s for over 40 years – discussed taking part.
“There was only ever going to be one choice this year,” he explained. “The greatest rock singer the world’s ever seen.”
He said members of the Osbourne family had travelled from the UK to watch, adding: “I would love to get everybody across for Ozzy’s celebration in July in Birmingham. With the one-year anniversary [of Ozzy’s death], I think there are plans for that.”
Rea recently published a book, Ozzy & Me: Life Lessons, Wild Stories, And Unexpected Epiphanies From Forty Years Of Friendship With The Prince Of Darkness, based on notebooks the music legend had given him while they were on tour together. It features a foreword by Jack Osbourne.
Mardi Gras, which translates as ‘Fat Tuesday’, features floats, marching bands and dance crews over numerous days of free parades.
In other news, Sharon Osbourne recently said she was “seriously thinking” about running to become the Mayor of Birmingham. She has also revealed that she is considering bringing OzzFest back, and it could return as soon as 2027.
Meanwhile, Jack Osbourne has shared an update on the long-mooted biopic about his late father, revealing that a “phenomenal actor” will take on the role of Ozzy.
Ozzy died of a heart attack in July 2025, just weeks after playing at Black Sabbath’s huge farewell show, ‘Back To The Beginning’, in their hometown of Birmingham. He was 76 years old. At the end of last year, Sharon recalled the touching final words that Ozzy said to her.
Earlier this month, Post Malone, Slash, Chad Smith and Duff McKagan performed ‘War Pigs’ to honour the life and legacy of Ozzy at the Grammys 2026. The ceremony saw Yungblud dedicate his first-ever Grammy to the late star, too.
Elsewhere, a cassette recording of Ozzy Osbourne rehearsing in 1980 has been unearthed.
The post Sharon responds as hundreds dress as Ozzy Osbourne for Mardi Gras appeared first on NME.
