Ariana Grande’s Grandmother, 98, Becomes Oldest Artist to Chart on Billboard’s Hot 100

Ariana Grande’s beloved grandmother, Marjorie Grande, just made music history.

The pop star’s “Nonna” became the oldest artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The 98-year-old broke the record after her 30-year-old granddaughter’s new single “ordinary things” reached number 55 on the charts. Majorie is credited as co-writer and singer on the song.

“Ordinary Things” comes from the Grammy winner’s recent album Eternal sunshine — which launched at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Marjorie took over the title from the late Fred Stobaugh, who was 96 when he took over in 2013. Stobaugh wrote “Oh Sweet Lorraine,” performed by Green Shoe Studio with Jacob Colgan. “Oh Sweet Lorraine” is at No. 42 and spent one week on the Hot 100, beginning on September 14, 2013, according to Billboard.

Marjorie and Stobaugh is followed by the late Tony Bennett’s “Body and Soul” featuring Amy Winehouse in 2011. Bennett was 85 at the time, and the song was at No. 87 for a week starting on October 1, 2011.

All about Ariana Grande’s grandmother Marjorie Grande

Ariana Grande.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

“Ordinary things” is the last song on Ariana’s seventh album. As the song ends, Marjorie is heard talking about her late husband, Frank Grande.

Marjorie’s words read:

And when he would come home and I would see him, And when he would come home and I would see him, when he got off that train for the first time

It was as if the almighty God had arrived

It was like a day

I mean, I could have packed up and left a million times

You know? It’s not like we never fought

You can overcome it

You know? It’s very easy

And like I told her, never go to bed without a kiss goodnight.

It’s the worst thing you can do, don’t ever, never do it.

And if you can’t, and if you don’t feel comfortable, do it.

You’re in the wrong place, get out.

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Ariana’s laughter can be heard at the end of the song and the album.

In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music 1, Sweetener the singer revealed she wasn’t sure how to end the song until she found a “voice note” of her grandmother talking to her friend Shirley.

“I knew ‘ordinary things’ was the end of the album,” said Ariana. “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?'”

She explained that the response to the album came “right in the middle” of Marjorie’s 30-minute note. “I always record my Nonna because you never know what she’s going to say,” Ariana explained.

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

Kevin Mazur/AMA2016/WireImage

In addition to “ordinary things”, Marjorie is also heard, but not credited, on Ariana’s debut album Sincerely yours the song “Daydreamin’,” as well as “Bloodline” from Thank you, Next. The albums were released in 2013 and 2019 respectively.

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Ariana’s song “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” from the album also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Before Eternal sunshine dropped, the album’s first single, “”Yes, And?,”” also peaked at number one on the January 27, 2024 chart.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education