Mark Ronson pays an emotional tribute to Amy Winehouse at the BRITs

Mark Ronson pays an emotional tribute to Amy Winehouse at the BRITs
Source: Daily Mail Online

Mark Ronson paid an emotional tribute to the late Amy Winehouse as he collected the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize at the BRIT Awards.

The record producer, 50, was recognised at Saturday's ceremony in Manchester and recalled how this week marks 20 years since he met the late musician.

The pair wrote the iconic hit Back to Black together on the 'same day' - a moment that 'changed his life forever'.

Mark said: 'It means so much to me to get this award.'

The musician then thanked those who have collaborated with through the years - including Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Dua Lipa - and says that the music he made with Amy provided him with the platform to go on and work with them all.

He said: 'The music I made with Amy is the reason any of them know who I am anyway, so that's why I will also treasure her voice, her talent, our bond, all of it.'

After receiving his award from Skepta, Mark performed Ooh Wee on stage with Ghostface Killah before again paying homage to Amy with a rendition of Back to Black.

It included a clip of the late star talking about Mark - and Valerie alongside Amy's band The Dap-Kings.

This was followed by a performance of Uptown Funk before Dua Lipa made a surprise appearance to sing Dance The Night from the Barbie soundtrack and the collaboration Electricity.

Mark had previously described how the BRIT Award was the most 'meaningful honour' of his career in music.

He said in a statement earlier this month: 'This is the most meaningful honour of my career.
'I think of the times I've watched artists I revere accept this same award. The idea that I'm now standing in that lineage feels impossible.'

Mark was born in London, but raised in New York - and the chart-topping star has admitted to feeling proud of his British roots.

He said: 'I left England as a kid, but this country runs through everything I've made.'

This was followed by a performance of Uptown Funk before Dua Lipa made a surprise appearance to sing Dance The Night from the Barbie soundtrack.

'The UK artists I've worked with - their brilliance and refusal to compromise - shaped not just my work but how I understand what music should do. And more than anything, it's the crowds here who've sustained and showed up for me.

'The fans, the festival crowds, the record buyers and streamers - the love has always been overwhelming. I'm beyond grateful for all of it.'

BRIT Awards winners: Olivia Dean breaks down in tears as she sweeps this year's ceremony

Olivia Dean swept the floor as she took home four awards - winning in every category she was nominated for.

The British singer and songwriter, 26, won Best Artist, Best Album, Best Song and Best Pop Act.

In the Song of the Year category Olivia was nominated for two, for her single Man I Need, as well as her song Rein Me In with Sam Fender - which won.

Olivia became the first woman to claim the UK's No 1 single and album in the same week since Adele in 2021, with her song Man I Need and album The Art Of Loving, both released in 2025.

It was a completely different night for Lily Allen who didn't take home any awards.

While she dominated the charts last year with the release of her fifth studio album West End Girl, Lily Allen failed to beat Miss Dean in categories Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Pop Act categories.

The singer, 40, used the album to chronicle the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour, 50, and detailed his alleged affair with 'Madeline' whilst they were together.

Despite being nominated eight times previously, the Not Fair hitmaker has only ever won one BRIT award and did not attend this year's ceremony.

Manchester born Noel Gallagher, 58, was honoured with this year's Songwriter of the Year award, after he reunited with his brother Liam for their mammoth Oasis reunion tour.

Sharon Osbourne, 73, took to the stage to accept an award on behalf of her late husband Ozzy Osbourne, who was honoured with the BRITs Lifetime Achievement Award.

Supported by her daughter Kelly, 41, the TV personality gave a heartfelt speech, saying: '[Ozzy] was gifted, totally unpredictable, a wild man - he was a true artist.

'He came from a small, working-class neighbourhood in Birmingham and rose to become one of the most recognisable and respected musicians of his life. He never stopped pushing himself to do better.
'He was the most humble ego-maniac you could ever meet. And yes, at the end of the day, he will always be a rock star. Ozzy's heart never left England. Wherever he was in the world, he was always proud to be that working-class Brummie.'

What followed was an all-star rock tribute performance, to close the show on the which paid homage to Ozzy, who sadly passed away last July.

This performance was a special arrangement of 'No More Tears' - the title track from Ozzy's multi-million selling 1991 album of the same name and was curated by Sharon Osbourne herself.

The performance featured musicians that played as part of Ozzy's band over the years; Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde; and was fronted by Robbie Williams, who was invited personally by Sharon to be part of this special moment, as a long-standing fan of the music, and friend of the Osbourne family.

Lola Dean, 24, who was nominated for five awards, took home the award from breakthrough artist after a turbulent few months.

It comes after a hiatus from music, following the 25-year-old sparking concern when she collapsed on stage at a New York gig in September.

She cancelled her remaining tour dates to take a break and get her 'head in a better place', but has since returned to the music scene and took to the stage to accept her award last night.

British rapper Dave, 27, won in the Hip Hop category off the back of releasing his third studio album, The Boy Who Played The Harp, at the end of last year.

British producer and DJ Fred Again, real name Fred Gibson,Skeptaand PlaqueBoyMax took home the Dance award,Sam Fendertriumphed in the Best Rock category.

And SAULT took home the R&B award whilst Jacob Alon won the Critics Choice award and PinkPanthress won Producer of the Year.

Geese won Best International Group and Rosalia won Best International Artist whilst International Song of the Year was taken home by ROSE and Bruno Mars.

International Song of the Year was won by Rosé and Bruno Mars for APT with Rosé at the ceremony to accept the honour.

The Group of the Year award was won by Wolf Alice after the success of their fourth album The Clearing.

BRIT Awards 2026: WINNERS

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Dave Fred Again... JADE Lily Allen Little Simz Lola Young Olivia Dean - WINNER PinkPantheress Sam Fender Self Esteem
GROUP OF THE YEAR The Last Dinner Party Pulp Sleep Token Wet Leg Wolf Alice - WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY THE PUBLIC) Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas - Blessings Chrystal and Notion - The Days (Notion remix) Cynthia Erivo ft Ariana Grande - Defying Gravity Ed Sheeran - Azizam Fred Again, Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax - Victory Lap Lewis Capaldi - Survive Lola Young - Messy Myles Smith - Nice to Meet You Olivia Dean - Man I Need Raye - Where Is My Husband! Sam Fender with Olivia Dean - Rein Me In - WINNER Skye Newman - Family Matters
INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR (VOTED FOR BY THE PUBLIC) Alex Warren - Ordinary Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club Disco Lines and Tinashe - No Broke Boys Gigi Perez - Sailor Song Gracie Abrams - That's So True Huntr/x - Golden Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile Rayvn Lenae - Love Me Not Rosé and Bruno Mars - APT - WINNER Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild sombr - Undressed Taylor Swift - The Fate of Ophelia
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Noel Gallagher - WINNER
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC Mark Ronson - WINNER
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR Bad Bunny Chappell Roan CMAT Doechii Lady Gaga ROSALIA - WINNER Sabrina Carpenter sombre Taylor Swift Tyler, The Creator
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST Barry Can't Swim EsDeeKid Jim Legxacy Lola Young - WINNER Skye Newman
INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Geese - WINNER HAIM HUNTR/X-EJAE/AUDREY NUNA/REI AMI
ALTERNATIVE ROCK ACT Blood Orange Lola Young Sam Fender - WINNER Wet Leg wolf alice
HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACTCENTRAL CEEDAVE - WINNERLITTLE SIMZ;