Tony Iommi Honored
Black Sabbath Guitarist Tony Iommi Awarded MBE for Services to Music and Charity
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Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, 78, has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours 2026 for his services to music and charity, BBC reported. The co-founder of heavy metal's most influential band called it "an unbelievable honour" — a recognition fans and peers had campaigned for over many years.
The full honours list, published on June 12, 2026, names 1,157 people across the UK. Among them is a Lichfield woman awarded an MBE for services to education, recognised by Lichfield Live as Sally Miner, a former executive headteacher and member of the Primary Learning Trust.
Tony Iommi's MBE Caps a Lifetime of Music and Giving
Iommi co-founded Black Sabbath in Birmingham in 1968 with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The band is widely credited with creating the heavy metal genre. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and played their final show in Birmingham in February 2017.
His charity work became deeply personal after he was diagnosed with Stage III lymphoma in January 2012. Since then, he has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham. His most recent campaign — raffling a signed Gibson SG guitar — raised over £53,000 for a new oncology unit in under two months, according to BBC.
Lichfield Educator Sally Miner Recognised for School Leadership
Sally Miner received her MBE for services to education. She is a member of the Primary Learning Trust and served as executive headteacher of Ryders Hayes School in Walsall. Her award is part of a broader recognition of regional educational leadership across the Midlands, according to Lichfield Live.
Other Standout Names Across the 2026 Honours List
The 2026 list spans sport, culture, and community service. BBC Sport NI presenter Stephen Watson, 55, was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and kidney transplant awareness in Northern Ireland, BBC reported. Football legend Lou Macari received a CBE for services to the community and charitable causes, according to Herald Scotland.
Author Julia Donaldson, creator of The Gruffalo, was also recognised on the list, reported The Edinburgh Reporter. The list's 1,157 recipients include 501 MBEs, 306 BEMs, 240 OBEs, and 31 knighthoods or damehoods. The youngest recipient is 20-year-old footballer Michelle Agyemang. The oldest is 102.
Iommi's Award Lands Months After Ozzy Osbourne's Death
The honour comes in the shadow of loss. Ozzy Osbourne, Iommi's longtime bandmate and friend, passed away at age 76 shortly after a one-off farewell concert, "Back to the Beginning," held at Villa Park in June 2025. Fans noted that Iommi's MBE also feels like a tribute to the band's full legacy.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the list reflects "compassion, resilience, and a commitment to others." For Iommi, those words fit squarely. He has spent over a decade turning his own cancer battle into a cause that has changed wards and lives across the West Midlands.
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