Ariana Grande has several interludes that prove her late grandmother, Marjorie “Nonna” Grande, was always one to speak her mind — and the Wicked: For Good star reminded the world of that at a Q&A on Friday (Dec. 5).
When an audience member asked Grande, “What’s the best piece of advice your Nonna ever gave you that has helped you in your creative process or career,” the Oscar-nominated actress hilariously replied, “F—k ’em!”
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“She had the most amazing way of simplifying anything I was ever going through, anything I was ever upset about, anything I was ever nervous about, insecure about, [or] afraid of,” she continued, after the room’s boisterous laughter subsided. “Oh my God, she just had this bad—s Brooklyn way of shutting out all the noise, and she would literally just say, ‘F—k ’em.’ It’s quite simple, but I hear her saying it now…. To this day, I feel her in my ear and on my shoulder, giving me strength when I feel like I don’t have any. She was just the best.”
Grande became increasingly emotional as she finished her answer, which was delivered during a Chapman University master class that also served as a live episode of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast. Marjorie Grande, whom she (and fans) affectionately refer to as “Nonna,” passed in June at age 99. Nonna appeared on several of Grande’s songs, including 2024’s “Ordinary Things,” which made the then-98-year-old the oldest person to ever appear on the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 55).
On the Eternal Sunshine album closer, Nonna offered more sage advice to her granddaughter, who then shared it with her fans. “Never go to bed without kissin’ goodnight,” she reminds Grande. “That’s the worst thing to do, don’t ever, ever do that. And if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you’re in the wrong place — get out.”
Grande is currently on the awards circuit for Wicked: For Good, which picked up five Golden Globes nominations on Monday (Dec. 8). Though the film was omitted from the best motion picture — musical or comedy lineup, the Jon M. Chu-helmed movie still earned nods for best actress in a motion picture — music or comedy (Cynthia Erivo), best supporting actress in a motion picture (Grande), best original song (“The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home”) and cinematic and box office achievement. Last week (Dec. 5), Grande earned her film’s lone acting nomination at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Listen to Ariana Grande hilariously recount Nonna’s NSFW advice below.
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