When you think of a chart-topping music sensation, a 99-year-old Italian grandmother probably isn't the first image that pops into your head. But for Marjorie Grande, the woman the world knows as Nonna, breaking the rules of the music industry was just another day at the office. Honestly, most people didn't realize that Ariana Grande grandma wasn't just a background figure in those adorable Instagram posts—she actually became a history-making artist in her own right.
The Record Most People Missed
In early 2024, the Billboard Hot 100 saw something pretty wild. Marjorie "Nonna" Grande officially became the oldest person ever to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. She was 98 at the time. This wasn't some weird technicality or a fluke. She was featured on the track "Ordinary Things," the closing song of Ariana’s Eternal Sunshine album.
She beat out the previous record holder, Fred Stobaugh, who was 96 when he charted in 2013. Think about that for a second. While most people her age were, well, doing literally anything else, Nonna was getting a Billboard plaque delivered to her house.
Why Ariana Grande Grandma Became an Icon
Ariana’s relationship with her Nonna was always the emotional backbone of her career. If you’ve followed Ari since the Victorious days, you’ve seen Nonna. She was there at the AMAs, the Grammys, and the VMAs. She wasn't just a guest; she was the star.
But why did she end up on the album?
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According to Ariana, it was kind of an accident. She was looking for the perfect way to end Eternal Sunshine, an album deeply rooted in the confusion of love and divorce. She found a 30-minute voice note on her phone of Nonna talking to her friend Shirley. Right in the middle of it was this gem of wisdom about her late husband, Frank. Nonna said:
"Never go to bed without kissin' goodnight. It's the worst thing to do... and if you can't, and if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you're in the wrong place. Get out."
It was the "Get out" that did it. It perfectly answered the question Ariana asked in the very first track of the album: "How can I tell if I'm in the right relationship?"
A Legacy Beyond the Charts
Nonna wasn't just on one song. She’s actually been a recurring "character" in Ariana's discography for over a decade.
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- Daydreamin’ (2013): You can hear her telling the story of how she and Frank fell in love.
- Bloodline (2019): She delivers that iconic opening line: "Because I'm a person that likes to be a little bit—I don't want to say controlling, but I like to have my own way."
- Ordinary Things (2024): The official Billboard-charting feature that made her a legend.
The Tragic Update of 2025
Sadly, the Grande family shared some heartbreaking news on June 17, 2025. Marjorie Grande passed away peacefully at the age of 99. She was surrounded by her family, including her daughter Joan and her grandchildren, Ariana and Frankie.
It felt like the end of an era for the Arianators. Nonna wasn't just a relative; she was a symbol of strength and humor. She even got her first tattoo at 93—the name "Ciccio" on her ring finger for her late husband. She lived a full, loud, and incredibly influential life.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of critics thought the "Ordinary Things" feature was just a gimmick. It wasn't. If you look at the credits, Nonna is listed as a co-writer. That's because the wisdom she shared wasn't scripted. It was a real-life observation from a woman who had been married for decades.
The record she broke isn't just a "fun fact" for trivia night. It represents a shift in how we see age in pop culture. In an industry obsessed with being 19 and trendy, a 98-year-old woman stole the show by just being honest.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If there’s anything we can learn from the story of Ariana Grande grandma, it’s these three things:
- Document your elders. Ariana's habit of recording random conversations with Nonna led to a Grammy-nominated album's most pivotal moment. Use your phone to save those stories now.
- Age is a number, not a limit. Being the oldest person on the Billboard charts proved that "late-blooming" is a myth. You can debut at 98.
- Honesty sells. The reason "Ordinary Things" resonated wasn't because of a catchy hook, but because it felt like real advice from someone who had actually lived through the "ordinary things" of life.
The world might have lost the physical presence of Nonna in 2025, but her voice is literally etched into music history. Whenever you hear that sharp "Get out" at the end of Eternal Sunshine, you're hearing the matriarch who kept the world's biggest pop star grounded for thirty years.
To keep Nonna's legacy alive, take her advice: never go to bed angry, and don't be afraid to demand the kind of love that makes you want to kiss goodnight every single evening.