Happy Birthday, Mrs. O! (As in, Sharon Osbourne)

Sharon Osbourne, Matriarch

Sharon Osbourne is a devoted mother, wife, businesswoman, television star, award-winning producer, and survivor who said in 2002 that she had "lived fifty lives in fifty years." (At the pace she's going, she'll likely hit a hundred lifetimes, but for now, she's turning 66 in true Mrs. O style.) That was sixteen years ago. Since then, her time on The Talk, her characteristic charm, frank honesty, sense of humor, business instincts, and the ability to articulate all of the above have earned her a reputation for being as big-hearted as she is blunt...and for being a formidable opponent.

It's also been 16 years since MTV's Emmy-winning reality show The Osbournes premiered to the opening theme song of...wait for it...Crazy Train. (Sung by Lewis Lamedica Pat Boone style as an homage to their previous neighbor). Even if you've never seen or heard of the show, odds are you've heard of the Osbournes and their offspring, Jack and Kelly. (Less well-known is Sharon and Ozzy's oldest daughter, Aimee, who opted not to participate in filming.) Between the Prince of Darkness (that would be Ozzy) showing his lovable side, matriarch Sharon documenting her battle with cancer, and the combined antics of the whole family (pets included), the global hit became the most viewed series of all time on MTV. It catapulted Sharon into public prominence and launched her career on a whole new trajectory along with it. (Ditto with the rest of the fam, but this is about Mrs. O.)

Autobiography #1: Sharon Osbourne, Extreme

In Sharon Osbourne Extreme: My Autobiography, Sharon tells her story and reveals the truth behind the headlines in her characteristically frank, intimate, and articulate way. From her childhood as infamous rock manager Don Arden's daughter, to managing and marrying heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, to raising three babies back-to-back-to-back, to her rising fame on "The Osbournes," "The X Factor," and "The Talk," she's experienced tremendous highs and devastating lows, and triumphed over them all. Extreme sold well over a million copies and was the autobiography of the year when it was published in 2006.

Autobiography #2: Survivor: My Story — The Next Chapter

Sharon Osbourne Survivor: My Story — The Next Chapter followed her British Book Award Biography of the Year-winning bestseller Extreme, in which Sharon disclosed the truth about her life in her famously frank and gutsy way. As fascinating and big-hearted as Mrs. O herself, Survivor is the bestselling follow-up book that tells the truth about her celebrity feuds, her eventful experiences on The X Factor and America's Got Talent, and the tragic impact of her father's death given their turbulent relationship. Never afraid to admit her own problems, she's brutally honest about her weight issues and plastic surgery, and movingly describes how her husband's unconditional love finally brought her true happiness, even amid all the chaos.

Autobiography #3: Unbreakable: My Brand-New Autobiography

The unbreakable Sharon Osbourne's life has always been an extreme rollercoaster ride, and despite her best efforts, the last few years have been the most dramatic and turbulent of all. Unbreakable: My Brand-New Autobiography divulges the stories of those years. She's reveled in times of huge joy and pleasure, such as becoming a grandmother for the first time and seeing both Jack and Kelly come through testing times to find happiness and contentment. She's also seen a lot of heartache, including the unexpected battle to save her thirty-year marriage and facing her beloved son Jack's multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Tough but fair as a talent judge and parent, Sharon is just as hard on herself and honest about the mistakes she has made, in her signature funny, frank, and fearless way.

Other Osbourne Books

In addition to her three bestselling autobiographies, Sharon is the author of the children's book Mama Hook Knows Best: A Pirate Parent's Favorite Fables and the novel Revenge: Two Sisters. One Dream. Winner Takes All.

Books written by other members of the fam and/or written about them include:

Officially Osbourne: Opening the Doors by Todd Gold
Ordinary People: Our Story by Ozzy, Sharon, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne
I am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne
Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy: Advice from Rock's Ultimate Survivor but Ozzy Osbourne
The Wit and Wisdom of Ozzy Osbourne by Dave Thompson
Ozzy "Talking": Ozzy Osbourne in His Own Words by Harry Shaw
There is No Secret: Letters from a Badass by Kelly Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne: Unauthorized, Uncensored — Understood by Sue Crawford

In Closing: Six Fun Facts About Mrs. O

1. Her estimated net worth is $220 million.
2. She lost 100 pounds with lap band surgery in 1999 (she later had the band removed).
3. She admitted to spending £120,000+ on plastic surgery, including three facelifts.
4. She manages Ozzy and daughter Kelly's careers and produces Ozzfest.
5. She established the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation to help others survive the disease.
6. At 15, she dropped out of school and got her first job as a receptionist for her music manager and concert producer father.

"We are a very colorful family. Everybody knows our mistakes. But I think that people can relate to all of our mistakes and all our good and bad points." – Sharon Osbourne

Happy reading!

Read more by Beth Clark