Robbie Williams reflects on his BRIT Awards performance with heartfelt message
Read his full statement
Last Saturday (28th February) Robbie Williams took to the stage at the Co-op Live in Manchester to perform a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, at The BRIT Awards with Mastercard. Robbie fronted a super-band made up of some of Ozzy's former band members.
Robbie, joined by Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde, performed a special arrangement of Ozzy's ‘No More Tears’, curated by Sharon Osbourne.
Now, nearly a week later, the singer has opened up about his experience at this year's BRITs, saying he'd been 'cynical about award shows for a very long time...', however his latest experience appears to have changed this opinion.
Speaking about his observations and experiences from the night, Robbie told his fans about meeting Sombr, watching Olivia Dean and hearing 'Where Is My Husband!' by RAYE. The singer also opened up about the tribute he performed, telling his fans how he giggled to himself before the screen went up, thinking: "Robbie from Take That fronting a metal band."
Read Robbie's full message to his fans
Robbie shared a very long message on Instagram, you can read the full statement below.
'I’ve been cynical about award shows for a very long time… for reasons that could probably fill a book.
'But that BRITs show in Manchester somehow rekindled my appreciation. It was a relief to discover that my sense of wonder for the industry I’m in actually still exists. I thought it was dead.'
Sombr
'I loved meeting and chatting with Sombr. What a guy. One of the purest, most innocent souls I’ve come across in a long time. Within two minutes of talking to him I had this overwhelming sense of pride in him - unusual, considering we were brand new people in each other’s lives.
'I think it takes less than a second to spot whether someone’s got it or not. And so it was a few months ago when the algorithm blessed me with his video for Back to Friends. I instantly wanted to know what, who and where he was. Then I found out he’s 20 and from New York. Wikipedia becomes a modern Smash Hits when you suddenly become a fan of someone.
'I miss Smash Hits.
'Twenty! That innocence must be protected at all costs by those around him, and by Shane Michael Boose himself. Every now and then artists appear who make me feel like a 14-year-old wide-eyed music lover again.
'Sombr ticks that box.
'Good luck, brother.'
Olivia Dean
'Which leads me to Olivia Dean stepping up and knocking it out of the park. She has that early Whitney charisma… when Whitney would smile, be naughty, cheeky, silly, and light up the world.
'Somehow her very being could eclipse her voice… and her voice had to be one of the best on the planet at the time. So it is with Olivia.
'She was one of those BRIT School kids in the pit at the BRITs ten years ago - wide-eyed and dreaming of being the people she was screaming for.
'For any kid reading this who’s dreaming the same dream: it’s going to be someone. So why not you?
'My daughter Teddy had made a video telling Olivia how much she loves her, so I had to go and find her to show it to her.
'Who I met was another innocent. Kind. Pure. Believe me, finding two artists backstage who are that open and pure of heart is nearly impossible.
'I certainly wasn’t when I was their age.
'Too much angst.
'Too much “f--k you”.
'Too much “f--k me”.
'Don’t get me wrong, I was nice. But I was also a bit like a mistreated Labrador. I want to roll over and have you tickle my belly… but first I must piss in the corner.'
RAYE
'When I heard Where Is My Husband! it was obvious that the universe’s algorithm was smiling on Raye. If that song isn’t a signal that tells you God wants Raye to have it all, then what is?
'Like when Beyoncé released Crazy in Love.
'Raye and her talent can take this anywhere she wants.'
Rosalía
'Then Rosalía pops up with what I thought was the performance of the night. I think my favourite live act might still be The Prodigy… and she has that spirit. She made me screw-face up and drop my jaw at the same time.'
Harry Styles
'Harry… Harry is an enigma.
'What’s he doing?
'How’s he doing it?
'Why are we all under his spell?
'What is he emanating that makes us watch and wonder those things?
'What a beautiful boy.'
Noel Gallagher
'When Noel wrote “These are crazy days but they make me shine,” or “Please don’t put your life in the hands of a rock ’n’ roll band and throw it all away,” those lyrics were life-affirming and life-changing for me.'
Sam Fender
'And so it is with Sam Fender:
'“I was far too scared to hit him But I would hit him in a heartbeat now That’s the thing with anger It begs to stick around.”
He’s been passed the baton for songwriting. He’s been given that brand of magic. He sings for us. He speaks about us. He writes about us. We feel it and we’re better for it.
'Keep that baton in your hand, buddy. Cherish it. And may it rest there for decades to come. There were a few artists there who have been unkind or disrespectful about me in the past. I’ve had to take solace in the fact that I can read in public.
'I thought Noel’s speech was great. It’s so hard to be sincere with those sorts of things. But when he mentioned the fans, the life they’ve given him, and his gratitude... you could feel it in the bones of him.'
Ozzy Osbourne
'As for my bit?
'Mrs O reached out and asked if I’d honour Ozzy.
'F--king yes.
'All day, every day, and twice on a Sunday please.
'There are not many people who have existed that everyone thinks are theirs. I thought this about Usain Bolt when he was breaking all the records. Usain doesn’t just belong to Jamaica — he belongs to all of us.
'Same with Ozzy. It’s a given that you love him. It’s a given that he’s yours. And I’d hazard a guess that people feel the same way about him from Brazil to Kathmandu.
'Like the Queen. You don’t really think about it, but if you questioned your subconscious you’d realise you’re just glad they’re there. Ozzy left us with a discography and a smile in our hearts.
'My God though... Standing up there singing with those lads playing behind me.
'F--K.
'THE POWER.
'I get it.
'And I think I’m addicted.
'I want to experience more of that. It was a life highlight. Before the screen went up I was standing there facing it and let out a genuine giggle.
'“Robbie from Take That fronting a metal band.”
'Delicious.
'And pats self on back - I delivered.
'I promised Mrs O by email that I wouldn’t let her or her family down. So I didn’t. I love being in their universe. Special family.
'Also, as a tribe, “rock guys” are always the kindest. Genuine. They don’t come with the same judgments as the “alt-rock guys”.
'The week before I came off a Zoom and Coco, my seven-year-old, asked,
'“What was that about, Daddy?”
'I said, “A lovely man who was very famous for singing has gone to heaven, and his family want me to sing one of his songs at an award show to honour him.” Coco thought about it for a second and said: “Was nobody else available?”'
Olivia Dean
'Last night, I was doom-scrolling on X and saw a clip someone had filmed from their seat of Olivia Dean waiting to go on.
'She was kicking her feet. Feeling the fear. Waiting to deliver. Wanting to deliver. All I could see was a little vulnerable girl.
'And I wanted to give her a hug. Because I know exactly what that moment feels like.
'That moment just before you step out and pretend you’re not scared.
'Which reminds me. I’m Robbie f--king Williams. I have no real confidence.
'But I’m brave as f--k. And I’ve got the biggest balls in showbusiness.
'Like I said earlier - I’m a Labrador. And I’ve just p--sed in the corner of your mind palace. x' (sic)'
Now read:
Robbie Williams: From Take That to solo pop star
The BRIT Awards 2026: Everything you need to know
The BRIT Awards 2026: Who performed on the night?