Ariana Grande makes her Nonna a record breaker with touching "Ordinary Things" feature

By Vicki Newman
Published
ariana grande and nonna close up

Ariana Grande has made her grandmother a record-breaking music artist by featuring her in a song.

Marjorie Grande, affectionately known as Nonna, the Italian word for Grandma, was 98 years 163 days old when she debuted at No.55 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 23 March.

Her part in Ariana’s song “Ordinary Things (feat. Nonna)”, from her latest album Eternal Sunshine, makes Nonna the oldest Hot 100 entrant (featured artist).

Ariana Grande on stage with, from left, her aunt Judy, Nonna and mother June

It’s the closing track on the album and ends with Nonna talking about her late husband, Frank.

Giving Ariana some advice, she says: “Never go to bed without kissin’ goodnight. That’s the worst thing to do; don’t ever, ever do that. And if you can’t, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you’re in the wrong place – get out.”

Ariana, who is starring as Glinda in upcoming musical movie Wicked, is incredibly close with her Nonna and has featured her in songs before, although she was previously uncredited.

Marjorie and Frank both feature at the end of “Daydreamin” from Ariana’s debut album Yours Truly, when they tell the story of how they fell in love.

Marjorie’s voice was also heard on “Bloodline” from the album Thank U, Next.

The intro came from a discussion between Marjorie and her daughter Joan – Ariana’s mum – about hearing aids, although out of context you might not think that.

There was also a little nod to Nonna in Ariana’s Nickelodeon show Sam & Cat, with her character Cat Valentine also calling her grandmother Nonna.

Ariana regularly talks about her Nonna during her appearances on chat shows and she’s become a beloved figure among the singer’s fans.

And now, they’re record holders together.

Ariana has a string of record titles to her name, including:

• First solo act to occupy top three positions simultaneously on US singles chart – On 23 February 2019, “7 Rings” was at No.1, “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” was at No.2, and “Thank U, Next” was at No.3

• Most streamed pop album in one week (USA) – Thank U, Next attracted 307 million on-demand streams in the US in the week following its release on 8 February 2019

• Most streamed track in one week by a female artist on the Billboard charts – “Thank U, Next” was streamed 93,800,000 times in the week ending 6 December 2018

• First female artist to replace herself at No.1 on UK singles chart – Ariana spent three weeks at No.1 with “7 Rings” before knocking herself off the top spot with “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” on 21 February 2019

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