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Revealed: The REAL reason Sharon Osbourne cried on Kelly's big night
Last updated at 23:58pm on 11.09.07With her youngest daughter about to tread the boards in her West End debut, like any proud mother Sharon Osbourne was overcome with emotion.
Sadly, the sentimental outburst wasn't for her 22-year-old daughter Kelly – but her pampered pooch, Minnie.
Just hours earlier the 54-year-old X Factor judge had been told that her beloved blonde Pomeranian was suffering with life-threatening pneumonia.
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Seriously ill: Sharon's dog Minnie has pneumonia
Reluctant to leave the animal's side, Miss Osbourne eventually decided to brave the red carpet in support of her youngest daughter's debut in the stage musical, Chicago.
Wearing a somber black jacket – perhaps in tribute to her dying pet – the British star gripped onto her husband Ozzy's arm for moral support.
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Emotional: Sharon in tears at the show as she arrives to watch daughter Kelly perform in musical Chicago
But minutes before the show's curtains up, it all became too much and she began to sob.
"Of all her dogs, Sharon is undoubtedly closest to Minnie," said a friend. "The pair has a real bond and it was Minnie who sat loyally beside her bed during those terrible months she was fighting her battle against cancer.
"Sharon felt that after being told Minnie is on her last legs, she should return the favour and stay by Minnie's side.
"But of course she couldn't miss Kelly's stage debut and in the end, torn though she was, Sharon soldiered on and went to the theatre.
"It was only when she got there and saw Kelly, that the stress and emotion of the past 24 hours overcame her and she burst into tears."
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A friend said the X-Factor judge was tired after a long flight and upset because her dog was unwell
The fluffy dog, which featured heavily in the family's MTV reality show The Osbournes, is said to be gravely ill and unlikely to survive beyond the end of the week.
When Miss Osbourne underwent treatment for colon cancer five years ago, Minnie - who has her own psychiatrist and dietician, was a constant source of support.
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Dog idol: Minnie has become a star of the small screen
Kelly, the youngest actress ever to take on the role of prison matron Mama Morton, is at the beginning of a seven-week stint at London's Cambridge theatre.
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A star is born: Kelly is the youngest actress to take on the role of Mama Morton
We are family: The Osbournes turned out to show their support for daughter Kelly
Her debut peformance drew a full house, which included Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse as well as Sharon's fellow X Factor judge Louis Walsh.
Speaking after the show, he said: "Kelly was brilliant. She is only 22 years old and she did an amazing job singing live."
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Debut: Kelly arrives to make her debut in the West End in her first ever performance in a musical
Other celebrities who have appeared in the show include Brooke Shields, Claire Sweeney and Denise van Outen.
Kelly's stint at the Cambridge Theatre is merely her latest career move since she came to the world's attention five years ago in fly-on-wall documentary The Osbournes.
Since then she has been a television personality, actress, singer - in 2003 she topped the chart with Changes, a duet with her father - and fashion designer, and was recently unveiled as the new host of a BBC Radio 1 show.
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Kelly will perform in the show for seven weeks
Amy Winehouse turned up for last night's performance with her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, and Kelly's friend Kate Moss arrived 20 minutes late - but then she is a supermodel, so that probably counts as early.
Her companion, thought to be a friend of Kelly, spent much of his time in his seat texting.
Reader views (2)
Poor Sharon. I have see the pictures from that night and also the video. She is so devastated, she is crying on Ozzy and it is like she is stuck to him. I heard that he had to comfort her in the theatre and a friend has been quoted as saying he has been trying to console because she is so devastated.
- Cassie, Wales
I can understand how heartbroken this poor woman feels. When I was told last year that my mother, who disowned me years ago, had died and asked if I was going to the funeral I said no. The reason behind this decision, my pet dog of nearly 16 1/2 years old was dying and indeed had been put to sleep before the funeral and any tears cried at my mother's funeral would have been for my beloved pet not my mother. This has resulted in my only close relation, a brother and his offspring also disowning me but they will never fill the gap left by the little dog who loved me without question. I cannot understand how Sharon could leave her pet knowing how ill it was, I am sure her daughter would have understood.
- Monica, Portsmouth
