American pop star Ariana Grande is grieving the loss of her cherished grandmother, Marjorie “Nonna” Grande, who passed away peacefully at the age of 99.
According to Daily Mail, in an emotional post on Instagram, Ariana’s family shared the heartbreaking news:
“We are devastated to share that the beloved matriarch of our family has passed away… surrounded by her family and loved ones for every moment of her last few weeks.”
Ariana was famously close to her Nonna, who played a major role in her early life and career. It was Nonna who encouraged her to audition for the lead role in Annie when she was just a child — a move that set the stage for Ariana’s rise to stardom.
Even in her later years, Nonna was often seen beside Ariana at award shows and public appearances. She wasn’t just a supportive grandmother — she made history too. In 2023, Nonna became the oldest person ever to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to her touching voice cameo on the outro of Ariana’s song Ordinary Things.
On the track, she lovingly reflected on her late husband, Frank, saying:
“When he’d come home… it was like God almighty arrived… like seeing daylight.”
Nonna didn’t just offer memories — she left advice:
“Never go to bed without kissin’ goodnight. That’s the worst thing to do… and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you’re in the wrong place — get out.”
Over the years, Nonna featured on multiple Ariana tracks and once even got matching tattoos with her to celebrate a career milestone.
Ariana once said her grandmother was “moved” to be on her albums and loved telling stories about her contributions.
