All About Ariana Grande's Grandmother Marjorie Grande

Ariana Grande has always talked about her close relationship with her family, including her “nonna”, Marjorie Grande.

“Yes and?” the singer’s grandmother is on her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunwhich was released in March 2024. Ariana teased her appearance when she released the tracklist 10 days before the album’s release, and the final track, “ordinary things,” had “feat. nonna” written next to it.

After the album’s release, Marjorie made her feature the oldest artist on Billboard’s Hot 100 when “Ordinary Things” peaked at #55.

Marjorie is Ariana’s mother Joan’s mom. In October 2023, Ariana and her brother Frankie Grande celebrated her 98th birthday.

“Happy birthday to our superstar Nonna! 98 with the spirit of a 19-year-old – we love you to the ends of the universe and back 💕,” Frankie captioned a series of photos of him and Ariana posing with Marjorie, who was wearing the “Birthday Queen” Belt.

From getting tattoos together to escorting Ariana to awards shows, here’s everything you need to know about Ariana Grande’s grandmother, Marjorie Grande.

She met her husband Frank Grande when she was 11 years old

Ariana Grande celebrates her 98th birthday in October 2023 with her brother Frankie Grande and grandmother Marjorie Grande.

Frankie James Grande/Instagram

In a video Ariana posted on YouTube in 2012, Marjorie and Frank told the story of how they first met. Marjorie was 11 years old and had just moved in across the street from Frank, who had recently had surgery and was in a wheelchair.

One of Marjorie’s friends would push Frank up and down their street while Marjorie sat alone at her desk because she didn’t know anyone. Frank would occasionally stop by to say hello, but it wasn’t until Marjorie moved away when she was 14 that things turned romantic.

At the time, Marjorie’s friend was dating Frank’s best friend and suggested the four of them start hanging out more, and that’s when things “rekindled,” Marjorie said. Although she was initially hesitant because he was “short” and she would have to wear “low heels”, she decided to date Frank and the two lasted through his military service and became engaged shortly after he was discharged.

However, Marjorie said she knew he was the one a long time ago.

“I think I stood on that threshold and looked at him,” she said. “When I was 11.”

He has two daughters and three grandchildren

Lani Grande, Marjorie Grande, Ariana Grande and Joan Grande on stage during the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards on August 20, 2018 in New York City.

John Shearer/Getty

Frank and Marjorie welcomed two daughters together – Judy and Joan – who went on to have three children. Joan has two children, Frankie and Ariana, while Judy has a daughter, Lani.

In 2018, Ariana brought her grandmother, mother and Lani on stage with her during her performance of “God is a woman” at the MTV Video Music Awards. The four women held hands at the end of her performance, with Ariana giving her nonna a sweet kiss before they shared a group hug.

She always believed in Ariana

Frankie J. Grande, Marjorie ‘Nonna’ Grande and Ariana Grande at the 2015 American Music Awards on November 22, 2015.

Frazer Harrison/AMA2015/Getty

Marjorie saw Ariana’s talent from an early age and even auditioned for the part in the Boca Raton, Florida, production Annie.

“I said you know, Ariana could do it,” she continued Today 2014. “She became a star. She auditioned and became Annie.”

She accompanied Ariana to award ceremonies

Ariana Grande and Marjorie Grande at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on August 24, 2014.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

A month after Ariana’s grandfather died, she brought Marjorie as her guest at the 2014 VMAs in August. Marjorie has since joined Ariana at a number of other awards shows, including the 2015 American Music Awards and the 2016 Time’s Gala, where she met Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone.

She got her first tattoo with Ariana

Marjorie Grande tattoo on left ring finger. Ariana Grande/Instagram

When Marjorie was 93, she got her first tattoo with her granddaughter by her side. Ariana posted about the special moment on her Instagram Story in December 2018, sharing that her nonna got a “ciccio” tattoo on her left ring finger in honor of her late husband.

In the video, Ariana asked Marjorie how she was coping with the pain, to which she replied, “I feel good. I had a little more excitement than this!”

After Nonna finished her tattoo and the room applauded, it was Ariana’s turn. She got a crescent moon next to a few stars and the sun on top of her hand.

She is involved in Ariana’s music

Ariana Grande and Marjorie ‘Nonna’ Grande at the 2016 American Music Awards on November 20, 2016.

Kevin Mazur/AMA2016/WireImage

Marjorie is the sole feature on Ariana’s March 2024 album Eternal Sunwho appears on the last song to answer her granddaughter’s question from the first song: “How do I know if I’m in the right relationship?”

“Never go to bed without a goodnight kiss. It’s the worst thing to do,” Marjorie replies in “ordinary things”. “Don’t ever do that. And if you can’t and don’t feel comfortable doing it, you’re in the wrong place. Get out.”

Her appearance on the song made Marjorie the oldest person on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Ariana said she didn’t know how to end the song properly until she found a “voice note” of Nonna talking to a friend.

“I knew that ‘ordinary things’ were the end of the album,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is the last song, but I’m wondering how can I put that button on it and make it come down emotionally the way I feel it can, and how can I answer the question?’ ”

The answer came “right in the middle” of Marjorie’s 30-minute note, and Ariana immediately knew it was it.

However, this is not the first time that Marjorie has appeared in her granddaughter’s music. Also has an unlisted sample in 2019’s “bloodline” and 2013’s “daydreamin”.

Ariana flew to her hometown to watch Wicked with Marjorie

Ariana took over the lead role of Glinda in 2024 Wickedwhich was published on November 22. She flew home to Boca Raton, Fla., to watch the movie with her grandmother, along with her boyfriend, Ethan Slater, who also stars in the film, and brother Frankie Grande.

“I flew to Boca for a day to watch with Nonna at the cinema I grew up going to every weekend, Cinemark 20 in Boca,” wrote Ariana in the title of the post on Instagram Stories.

“Delighted to report that when the sugar glider had its own drummer solo, nonna let out a loud ‘oh I LOVE it’ @jonmchu,” she captioned another photo, tagging the film’s director.

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Source: HIS Education