In an incredibly heartwarming moment, Ariana Grande paid a special tribute to her beloved grandmother, Marjorie “Nonna” Grande, for making music history. The 98-year-old matriarch recently became the oldest person ever to be featured on the Billboard Hot 100 chart thanks to her vocals on Ariana’s latest single “Ordinary Things.”
To commemorate the monumental achievement, the “thank u, next” singer presented her Nonna with a beautiful plaque, capturing the precious moment in a photo shared to social media. The image shows Marjorie beaming with pride as she holds up the framed record commemorating her Billboard debut.
Ariana gushed in the caption,
“Celebrating the one and only, most beautiful Nonna who has now made history for being the senior most person to ever appear on the @billboard Hot 100.” “We love and thank you.”
It’s a truly remarkable feat for the spunky 98-year-old, whose wise relationship advice is featured during the emotional outro of “Ordinary Things,” the closing track on Ariana’s acclaimed album “Eternal Sunshine.” Nonna’s voiceover captures her frank yet endearing wisdom, advising listeners to “never go to bed without kissin’ goodnight” and to leave any relationship where one doesn’t “feel comfortable.”
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Ariana explained how perfectly Nonna’s words complemented the album’s opening line, questioning, “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship?” The singer shared that she frequently records her beloved grandmother because “you never know what she’s gonna say and she’s the most hilarious person in the world.”
“I had this, like, 30-minute voice note of her and her friend Shirley talking and, um, it was just right smack in the middle of it,” Ariana recalled, “and I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s the answer.'”
The touching decision to feature Nonna’s vocals has clearly resonated with fans, propelling the sentimental song up the charts and earning the sharp-witted grandmother her historic Billboard entry at the incredible age of 98. For Ariana, being able to share such a momentous occasion with her adored Nonna must feel incredibly special.
Despite achieving virtually every accolade possible throughout her wildly successful career, this shared achievement is surely among Ariana’s proudest moments yet. Not only did she get to work creatively with her beloved grandmother, but she could revel in Marjorie’s shining moment while creating a priceless memory together.
In an age of fragmented families and fleeting connections, Ariana and Nonna’s beautiful bond shines as a beacon of hope. Their heartwarming dynamic stands as a reminder to cherish our elders and keep family at the forefront, even amid life’s craziest moments. This latest triumph is sure to be celebrated for generations to come within the Grande family tree.