Eddie Trunk thinks MTV’s Video Music Awards got one thing right. The heavy metal historian and media personality took to X to praise the show for its tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne.
During the Sept. 8 broadcast, MTV tapped Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, as well as Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt, to perform a tribute to Osbourne. The Black Sabbath rocker died July 22 at age 76.
Videos by American Songwriter
The tribute was a medley of Osbourne’s biggest hits: “Crazy Train,” “Changes,” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
Trunk shared a video of the performance on X, writing, “I know for a fact these guys refused to play and sing to a track and lip synch on this, much like all the other ‘talent’ did in this show. Real artists playing real live rock, what a concept …”
In a follow up tweet, Trunk added of the tribute, “Great! Very well done.”
“Say what you will about these awards now but props to them for doing that and giving it that much of a segment,” he wrote. “It was the one true real live rock moment in the whole show and everyone in it crushed.”
What Others Are Saying About the VMAs’ Ozzy Osbourne Tribute
While Trunk was pleased with the VMAs’ tribute to The Prince of Darkness, the same can’t be said for Dan Hawkins. The guitarist and backing singing of hard rock band The Darkness, Hawkins took to Instagram to blast the tribute.
“Another nail in the coffin of rock n roll. Cynical, nauseating and more importantly; s**t,” he wrote. “Makes me sick how people jump on this s**t to further their own careers.”
For her part, Ariana Grande clearly enjoyed the Osbourne tribute. In a now-viral moment, Grande was seen watching on in awe from the crowd, shaking her head with her mouth agape.
Fans tended to lean to the side of Trunk and Grande, as they largely praised the performance online. Social media users called the performance “real music” that “honored Ozzy in the most powerful way.”
Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
Musician Bruce Springsteen performs during the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in the Jackson Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, US, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Intended as a celebration of the progress embodied by the nation's first Black leader, its Juneteenth unveiling comes at a time when his agenda – and broader diversity initiatives – are wilting from a decade of concerted attack. Photographer: Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images -
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns -
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 11: Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage with Thunderpussy at The Showbox on December 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images) -
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 02: Luke Bryan answers holds a Super Bowl LI football during the Super Bowl LI Pregame press conference on February 02, 2017, at the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 15: Abe Olman Publishing Award winner, Caroline Bienstock poses backstage at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 48th Annual Induction and Awards at New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 15, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame) -
Carrie Underwood at the "Alan Jackson: The Last Show" concert special red carpet held at Nissan Stadium on June 27, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jamie Schramm/Variety via Getty Images) -
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NOT TO BE LICENSED FOR ANY STANDALONE OR SPECIAL INTEREST BOOK PUBLISHING USE CONCERNING THE COACHELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND/OR STAGECOACH MUSIC FESTIVAL) Singer Gavin Adcock performs on the Palomino Stage during day 2 of Stagecoach Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 25, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Stagecoach) -
Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images