Ariana Grande has shared a heartwarming and humorous memory about her beloved grandmother’s reaction to her brother Frankie Grande coming out as gay.
The Wicked: For Good star appeared on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, where she opened up about her life, career, and the upcoming film. During the chat, Grande recalled one of her all-time favourite stories involving her late grandmother, Marjorie ‘Nonna’ Grande, and her brother Frankie.
Nonna, who passed away earlier this year at age 99, was described by Ariana as “so funny” and loving. When Frankie came out to the family, Ariana’s response was immediate support. “He came out to us and my first question was, ‘Do you have a boyfriend? Who is he? I want to meet him’,” she recalled.
As for Nonna, Ariana said she was “very accepting, very loving, very celebratory,” although a bit inquisitive in her own unique way.
Explaining that Frankie had previously dated women, Ariana shared that her Nonna was curious and had her own way of confirming things. Mimicking her grandmother, Ariana said, “‘Frankie? Have you seen a pair of breasts?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, Nonna, I’ve seen breasts.’ Then she asked, ‘Didn’t do anything for you?’ And he said, ‘No. Nonna. No.’”
With her classic wit, Nonna responded: “‘Well, you’re gay.’” Ariana emphasised that her grandmother meant no harm and simply wanted to be sure. “It was just so funny,” she added with affection.
Elsewhere in the podcast, Ariana hinted that her upcoming Eternal Sunshine tour in 2026 might be a “last hurrah” before a long break from music. She also touched on her acting work, including wrapping up filming for Focker-in-Law, the fourth entry in the Meet the Parents franchise.
Fans can also catch her reprising her role as Glinda in Wicked: For Good, set to hit cinemas on Friday, 21 November, following up on the 2024 film Wicked.
