While it’s not the first time Ariana Grande ’s Nonna has been featured on one of granddaughter’s songs, it is the first time she’s made history for it.
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As several of Ariana’s songs from eternal sunshine have made there way to the Billboard’s Hot 100 list, Nonna’s words of wisdom on “ordinary things,” which debuted at No. 55, has made her the senior-most artist ever to have appeared on the chart.
Nonna claims the record from the late Fred Stobaugh , who was 96 when Green Shoe Studio ’s “Oh Sweet Lorraine,” which he wrote, spent a week at No. 42 on the Hot 100 on the chart dated September 14, 2013.
On the track, Nonna, formally Marjorie Grande , is billed as a featured artist and co-writer. Reflecting on her late husband, Frank, and sharing some sage advice as the song closes out, Nonna says “And when he'd come home and I'd see him, when he first gets off that train / It was like God almighty arrived, It was like seein' daylight / I mean, I could've packed up and left a million times / You know? It's not that we never fought / You can overcome that, You know? It's very easy / And as I told her, 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.”
“I always record my Nonna, because you never know what she’s going to say,” Grande told Zane Lowe during a enlightening interview, “I had this 30-minute voice note of her and her friend Shirley talking.”
Explaining to Lowe why she closed out the track with the soundbite, and followed it up with her laughter, she said, “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.’”
As we mentioned at the start, Grandma Grande has also been heard, however not credited on “Daydreamin’,” from Grande’s 2013 debut album Yours Truly , as well as “Bloodline,” from 2019’s thank u, next .
Having just earned her sixth No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with eternal sunshine , Ariana’s week just keeps getting better, because “ordinary things” wasn’t the only track off the album to make the Hot 100 songs list. Ari’s second single “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” has nabbed the top spot. Meaning this week, Ariana has both the No. 1 song and the No. 1 album in the U.S.
Reflecting on the incredible accomplishment in a heartfelt Instagram, Ari wrote, “i know i have been posting so much (i feel self conscious about that / also would like to keep going / thanking / celebrating !) but i just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart…”
“it’s impossible to put into words what I’ve been feeling this week,” the singer continued. “This album is most special to me for many reasons and just holds so much. sharing it has re-opened a lot of little and big feelings alike and it has been an emotional week in many ways!… but your overwhelmingly loving response to it all has made me feel such joyful, human connection and comfort. just wanted to say i love and appreciate you all more than one can say and thank you again. it is, as it always has been, my greatest honor to grow with you… 。˚❀ ·ꕤ let us promise to keep going ! .ﾟꕤ”
Check out Ari’s post below.
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