Ozzy Osbourne announces Parkinson's diagnosis in emotional interview

21 January 2020, 14:36 | Updated: 14 September 2023, 15:51

Legendary rock star Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed that he has been battling Parkinson's disease in an emotional interview on American TV.

Speaking to Robin Roberts for Good Morning America, Ozzy opened up about his private health battle alongside wife Sharon Osbourne.

He explained how he injured himself after a fall, and his reaction to his Parkinson's diagnosis last February.

"It's been terribly challenging for us all," Ozzy told Roberts. "I did my last show New Year's Eve at The Forum. Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves."

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that progresses slowly in most people, and has no cure.

"It's PRKN 2," said Sharon. "There's so many different types of Parkinson's; it's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it's -- it's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day."

Ozzy postponed his world tour last year, and he stayed out of the spotlight while he recovered at home.

"I got a numbness down this arm for the surgery, my legs keep going cold," he said. "I don't know if that's the Parkinson's or what, you know, but that's -- see, that's the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. I'd never heard of nerve pain, and it's a weird feeling."

His children Jack and Kelly first realized something wasn't right about their dad's health. "The hardest thing is watching somebody that you love suffer," Kelly said.

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Thank you all so much for your well wishes dad is doing so much better. Nothing that some rest, antibiotics and of course his favorite ice cream can’t cure 🍦

A post shared by Kelly Osbourne (@kellyosbourne) on Oct 6, 2018 at 5:09pm PDT

"It's kind of become a bit of, I think a role reversal for us, where we have to be like, 'Snap out of it. Come on we have to all admit what's happening here,' so that we can get over this. And it took a while for everyone to be on the same page."

Since his battle began, Ozzy has been rebuilding his strength in order to perform for his fans. He recently unveiled his first new song in a decade, 'Ordinary Man', a duet with Elton John.

"They're my air, you know," said Ozzy about his fans. "I feel better. I've owned up to the fact that I have, a case of Parkinson's. And I just hope they hang on and they're there for me because I need them."