Ariana Grande Isn’t Only Family Member Making History: Grandma Sets Record as Oldest Hot 100 Artist

Ariana Grande isn't the only member of her family making history on the Billboard charts. Marjorie Grande, her grandmother, also earned a place in the record books, as "Ordinary Things," a song from Ariana's new chart-topping album Eternal Sunshine, has entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 55, according to the magazine.

Usually, such a debut would be insignificant but in this case it's different. Majorie Grande is 98 years old, and the chart debut of the track makes her the oldest artist ever to chart a song on the Hot 100 since it was first established back on Aug. 4, 1958, according to Billboard.

Marjorie Grande, also known as Nonna, is credited as a featured artist on the track. The previous record was set more than a decade ago by 96-year-old Fred Stobaugh on the song "Oh Sweet Lorraine" by Green Shoe Studio featuring Jacob Colgan, who sung the song penned by Stobaugh. It charted at No. 42 on the Hot 100 dated Sept. 14, 2013.

The third oldest person to chart on the Hot 100 is significantly better known than the top two. It's the late legendary crooner Tony Bennett, who was 85 when "Body and Soul," his duet with Amy Winehouse, debuted at No. 87 on the Hot 100 dated Oct. 1, 2011.

Bennett topped another late legend - George Burns. He was 84 when his "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again" concluded its run on the chart the week of March 22, 1980.

Nonna, who is credited as a co-writer on "Ordinary Things," offers some relationship advice toward the end of song that she and her late husband, Frank, followed. "Never go to bed without kissin' goodnight. That's the worst thing to do; don't ever, ever do that," she says. "And if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you're in the wrong place - get out."

During a recent interview with Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe, Ariana revealed that she often records her grandmother. "I always record my Nonna, because you never know what she's going to say," she said. "I had this 30-minute voice note of her and her friend Shirley talking."

Ariana is heard laughing following Nonna's advice and it serves as the song and the album's finale. "I think it's a little bit of, 'Wow, our loved ones, our friends and our family have the ability to instantly just sort of soothe and calm and simplify things that are so complicated and heavy at times,'" she told Lowe.

This isn't the first time Nonna has appeared on a Grande recording, although she previously did not receive an artist credit. She appeared on "Daydreamin'," a track from Grande's 2013 debut album Yours Truly, and was also featured on "Bloodline," from 2019's Thank U, Next. The track reached No. 22 on the Hot 100, according to Billboard.

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