A Goodbye in Harmony: The Lasting Power of Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne’s “Changes”

In 2003, the world witnessed an unexpectedly tender side of heavy metal’s wildest icon when Ozzy Osbourne joined his daughter Kelly for a duet on the classic Black Sabbath song “Changes.” What began as a deeply personal project soon transformed into a chart-topping hit, echoing through the years as a unique testament to family, vulnerability, and love.

Originally released by Black Sabbath in 1972, “Changes” was a piano-driven ballad about loss, written by Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler with heartfelt lyrics from Ozzy about the breakup of drummer Bill Ward’s marriage. Decades later, as Kelly struggled with her own public challenges and Ozzy navigated his own journey of addiction and fatherhood, the song’s message took on a new meaning for the Osbournes. Kelly and Ozzy re-recorded “Changes” as a duet, with the lyrics adjusted to reflect the bittersweet shift from childhood to adulthood—a conversation between father and daughter about growing up and letting go.

The single was released in December 2003, coinciding with the global popularity of the reality TV show “The Osbournes.” The video, showing Kelly and Ozzy in the recording studio, was full of gentle exchanges and playful smiles. Fans saw a side of Ozzy rarely revealed: not the bat-biting rock god, but a soft-spoken dad, proud and protective. Kelly, whose own music career was in its infancy, found new confidence and joy performing alongside her father.

“Changes” shot to number one on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for two weeks. It was the first and only time a father-daughter duo topped the UK charts, instantly cementing its place in pop culture. The public was captivated by the sincerity and warmth of their relationship, with many describing the duet as “achingly real.” Kelly herself later said it was the most honest thing she’d ever sung, and that sharing it with her dad was one of her proudest moments.

Ozzy, always known for his unpredictability, became emotional every time he performed the song. He would later reflect that singing “Changes” with Kelly brought up all the feelings he’d tried to suppress: the joy of watching his daughter grow, the sadness of time slipping away, and the gratitude of being present after years of chaos. The world saw a father reckoning with his own mistakes and celebrating the small miracle of family.

Over the years, “Changes” became a staple at major family milestones and public tributes. On TV specials and benefit concerts, Kelly and Ozzy’s voices blended in a way that felt both fragile and unbreakable—cracking with emotion and seasoned with mutual love. Fans often wrote that the song helped them repair their own family rifts, and it became a kind of healing anthem for parents and children.

In July 2025, Ozzy Osbourne’s passing sent shockwaves through the music world. Suddenly, every lyric in “Changes” felt heavier, every pause more poignant. When Kelly posted a line from the duet—“I lost the best friend I ever had”—her grief echoed the pain and hope embedded in the song. Fans everywhere revisited the “Changes” video, some for comfort, others to witness again the rare gentleness Ozzy brought to his family.

In the wake of his death, social media was flooded with clips of their performance. “You can see how much they mean to each other just by the way they look,” one fan wrote. Another said, “No tribute will ever touch me like this song does now.” Even people who had never followed Ozzy’s career found themselves moved by the raw honesty and unconditional affection captured in that duet.

Kelly’s public statements in the days after Ozzy’s passing were heartbreaking and resilient. She spoke of how music was their language when words failed, and how “Changes” would always be a bridge back to the father she adored. Sharon Osbourne, too, commented on how proud Ozzy had been of that song, cherishing it as proof that his wild life had, at its core, always been about love and family.

For Kelly, “Changes” is more than a song; it’s a living memory. The sound of her father’s voice beside hers, sometimes cracking, sometimes soaring, is now a comfort she’ll carry forever. For Ozzy’s fans, the duet is a reminder that even legends are human, and that their greatest acts are often quiet moments of tenderness.

As the world mourns Ozzy’s loss, “Changes” endures—not just as a chart-topping hit, but as a portrait of a relationship that withstood the storms of fame, addiction, and time. In every note, you can hear the story of a family that, despite everything, stayed connected by love.

And for those who listen now, after everything, the song’s final lines carry a new, bittersweet resonance:
“It took so long to realize, I can still hear his last goodbyes.”
For Kelly and all who loved Ozzy, that goodbye is still ringing, gentle and true.