Marjorie “Nonna” Grande, the beloved grandmother of pop superstar Ariana Grande and the oldest person ever featured on the Billboard Hot 100, has died at age 99. The news was confirmed by Ariana’s mother, Joan Grande, in an Instagram statement on June 17. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, just weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
Described as the “matriarch” of the Grande family, Nonna was a fixture in Ariana’s life and public persona. Known for her warm presence at award shows and in candid social media moments, she most recently appeared in Ariana’s 2024 song “Ordinary Things” from the album Eternal Sunshine. At age 98, her voice recorded a heartfelt piece of relationship advice: “Never go to bed without kissin’ goodnight,” earning her a place on the Billboard Hot 100 and making her the oldest person ever to chart.
Ariana, visibly grieving, shared a black-and-white photo of Nonna’s wedding day captioned “Forever.” Her brother Frankie Grande posted an emotional tribute recounting life lessons she taught him—from hugging warmly to staying true to oneself.
Nonna’s musical contributions extended to other tracks, including “Daydreamin’” and “Bloodline.” She also made a memorable cameo at Ariana’s stage performance of “God Is a Woman” in 2018.
Fans and fellow celebrities flooded social media with tributes following the announcement. The family requested privacy “as we grieve and celebrate her beautiful, extraordinary life,” adding that Ariana and her loved ones are “devastated” by the loss.
