Ariana Grande’s grandmother Marjorie Grande, known to fans as “Nonna,” has died. She was 99.
“We are devastated to share that the beloved matriarch of our family has passed away,” Grande’s mother, Joan Grande, wrote in a statement shared to her Instagram Story. Ariana re-posted the image to her own Story, sharing the news with her 375 million followers.
“Marjorie (Nonna) Grande passed peacefully in her home and was surrounded by her family and loved ones for every moment of her last few weeks. We thank you for your love, support and for respecting our privacy as we grieve and celebrate her beautiful, extraordinary life.”
Ariana has spoken lovingly and often of her Nonna. At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, Ariana told a reporter her grandmother was the second person, after her mother, she’d called after learning of her “Wicked” nomination.
Marjorie Grande had a cameo in the last track off Ariana’s most recent album, “Eternal Sunshine.” In “Ordinary Things (feat. Nonna),” Marjorie advises her granddaughter, “Never go to bed without kissing goodnight. It’s the worst thing to do. Don’t ever, ever do that. And if you can’t, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you’re in the wrong place. Get out.”
Ariana explained in a March 2024 episode of The Zach Sang Show, “The album starts with a question and ends with an answer from a person that I love and trust so implicitly. I cherish what my family has to share with me.”
“She was very excited to be on the album, and she was very moved by it,” Ariana said of her grandmother’s reaction to the song. “She loved that she was there, and she told many stories about all the different times she’s been on my album.”
Ariana impersonated Marjorie as she said, “She was like, ‘It’s not the first time. There’s been many more. I was on the first one.'”
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Marjorie’s voice (as well as late husband Frank’s) made its way into “Daydreamin'” from Ariana’s debut album, “Yours Truly,” as well as “Bloodline” from 2019’s “Thank u, next.”
Frankie Grande remembers ‘Nonna’ as his ‘best friend’
In a succinct tribute, Ariana posted a photo from her grandparents’ wedding on Instagram and captioned the image: “forever.”
Older brother Frankie Grande shared photos of himself with Marjorie over the years on Instagram and penned a lengthy tribute to his “best friend.”
“How can I ever thank you enough for the countless lessons you wove into my heart over the years?” he began his caption, listing off the lessons she’s taught him over the years, including “how to show up for family in a way so deep, so unwavering.”
Frankie promised to “carry that torch fiercely in your absence.”
“I honestly don’t know how this world turns without you in it, but I do know this: I know you so well, I will never have to wonder what you’d say or think in any situation,” he continued.
“Your voice, your love, your spirit is forever part of me. So in that way, we’ll never be apart. I love you endlessly, my sweet Nonna. I miss you more than words can hold. My heart is shattered, but I feel you watching over me, already so proud of everything I’ve done and all that is about to come.”