Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary heavy metal pioneer, was laid to rest this past Wednesday in his hometown of Birmingham, England. The 76-year-old rocker’s passing last week sent ripples throughout the music world, prompting heartfelt tributes from icons across genres. Green Day honored Osbourne by playing a snippet of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” Alice Cooper and his band performed “Paranoid,” and heavyweights from Pearl Jam to Metallica shared their remembrances.
Among those paying tribute was none other than Carrie Underwood, the powerhouse country vocalist known for her soaring voice and surprising love for heavy metal. Underwood has long been open about her passion for hard rock music, having performed multiple times with Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose and covered songs by legendary umlaut bands Mötley Crüe and Motörhead. She’s also renowned for her stirring renditions of Osbourne’s haunting 1991 power ballad “Mama, I’m Comin’ Home.”
In 2023, Underwood took her tribute to new heights during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM, delivering a full-band-backed version of “Mama, I’m Comin’ Home” that showcased the deep sonic and lyrical ties between mainstream country and classic metal. Her performance underscored the unexpected yet powerful connection between the two genres—a connection that continues to evolve.
This summer saw other artists embracing that crossover spirit. Dolly Parton teamed up with Mötley Crüe for a fresh take on their power ballad “Home Sweet Home,” which topped Mediabase’s Classic Rock chart. Parton also sent a heartfelt video message to Osbourne during Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on July 5.
Further blurring genre lines, outlaw country singer Alex Williams released Space Brain, an album of hair metal classics reimagined as gritty country tunes. His cover of Osbourne’s “Flying High Again” features a duet with Cody Jinks, himself a former metalhead turned country star.
Through her stunning tribute and lifelong appreciation for metal, Carrie Underwood offered a fitting farewell to Ozzy Osbourne—celebrating a legacy that transcended musical boundaries and touched fans far beyond the world of heavy metal.
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