Ariana Grande's Grandma Was 13 WhenThe Wizard of OzReleased — 85 Years Later She Watched Her Granddaughter Play Glinda

Mar. 15, 2025

Ariana Grande’s grandmother Marjorie and Ariana in Wicked.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Universal PicturesWhen it comes to movies that take place in the land of Oz,Ariana Grande’s grandmotherMarjorie Grandehas quite literally seen it all.Ariana, who stars inWickedas Glinda, the famous “good witch” first brought to the big screen in 1939’sThe Wizard of Oz, documented her trip to the movies with boyfriendEthan Slaterand her family — including Marjorie — with multiple photos and avideoshe shared to Instagram recently from Boca Raton, Florida, where she grew up. The video showed her grandmother smiling during Glinda’s standout number, “Popular,” as the family all held hands.Marjorie, who turned 99 in October — Ariana’s brother Frankie shared abirthday tribute to her on InstagramOct. 13 — was just 13 years old whenThe Wizard of Ozreleased in theaters in August 1939. That means the Grande family matriarch has lived through every screen portrayal of Glinda, culminating in her own granddaughter headliningWickedalongsideCynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.Marjorie Grande and Ariana Grande on Nov. 22, 2015.Frazer Harrison/AMA2015/GettyBillie Burke, who died at 85 in 1970, portrayed Glinda inThe Wizard of Oz. Grande is one in a long line of actors to portray the iconic witch on the big or small screen, with more than a dozen adaptations of Frank L. Baum’sOznovels made betweenThe Wizard of Oz’srelease andWickedhitting theaters.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Prior toWicked’s release,Michelle Williamswas the last actress to portray Glinda in a movie with 2013’sOz the Great and Powerful. The character also appeared in a number of television series in the years beforeWicked.Marjorie Grande and Ariana Grande on April 26, 2016.Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesArianashared a video on YouTubeall the way back in 2012 revealing that Marjorie and her grandfather, Frank, first met when Marjorie was 11 years old. Ariana’s grandparents began dating as teenagers and eventually welcomed two daughters, including Ariana and Frankie’s mother Joan.Marjorie recently appeared as a featured artist on Ariana’s albumEternal Sunshineon its final track “ordinary things.” The feature made Marjorie theoldest person ever to chart on the Billboard Hot 100back in March.

Ariana Grande’s grandmother Marjorie and Ariana in Wicked.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Universal Pictures

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Universal Pictures

When it comes to movies that take place in the land of Oz,Ariana Grande’s grandmotherMarjorie Grandehas quite literally seen it all.Ariana, who stars inWickedas Glinda, the famous “good witch” first brought to the big screen in 1939’sThe Wizard of Oz, documented her trip to the movies with boyfriendEthan Slaterand her family — including Marjorie — with multiple photos and avideoshe shared to Instagram recently from Boca Raton, Florida, where she grew up. The video showed her grandmother smiling during Glinda’s standout number, “Popular,” as the family all held hands.Marjorie, who turned 99 in October — Ariana’s brother Frankie shared abirthday tribute to her on InstagramOct. 13 — was just 13 years old whenThe Wizard of Ozreleased in theaters in August 1939. That means the Grande family matriarch has lived through every screen portrayal of Glinda, culminating in her own granddaughter headliningWickedalongsideCynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.Marjorie Grande and Ariana Grande on Nov. 22, 2015.Frazer Harrison/AMA2015/GettyBillie Burke, who died at 85 in 1970, portrayed Glinda inThe Wizard of Oz. Grande is one in a long line of actors to portray the iconic witch on the big or small screen, with more than a dozen adaptations of Frank L. Baum’sOznovels made betweenThe Wizard of Oz’srelease andWickedhitting theaters.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Prior toWicked’s release,Michelle Williamswas the last actress to portray Glinda in a movie with 2013’sOz the Great and Powerful. The character also appeared in a number of television series in the years beforeWicked.Marjorie Grande and Ariana Grande on April 26, 2016.Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesArianashared a video on YouTubeall the way back in 2012 revealing that Marjorie and her grandfather, Frank, first met when Marjorie was 11 years old. Ariana’s grandparents began dating as teenagers and eventually welcomed two daughters, including Ariana and Frankie’s mother Joan.Marjorie recently appeared as a featured artist on Ariana’s albumEternal Sunshineon its final track “ordinary things.” The feature made Marjorie theoldest person ever to chart on the Billboard Hot 100back in March.

When it comes to movies that take place in the land of Oz,Ariana Grande’s grandmotherMarjorie Grandehas quite literally seen it all.

Ariana, who stars inWickedas Glinda, the famous “good witch” first brought to the big screen in 1939’sThe Wizard of Oz, documented her trip to the movies with boyfriendEthan Slaterand her family — including Marjorie — with multiple photos and avideoshe shared to Instagram recently from Boca Raton, Florida, where she grew up. The video showed her grandmother smiling during Glinda’s standout number, “Popular,” as the family all held hands.

Marjorie, who turned 99 in October — Ariana’s brother Frankie shared abirthday tribute to her on InstagramOct. 13 — was just 13 years old whenThe Wizard of Ozreleased in theaters in August 1939. That means the Grande family matriarch has lived through every screen portrayal of Glinda, culminating in her own granddaughter headliningWickedalongsideCynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.

Marjorie Grande and Ariana Grande on Nov. 22, 2015.Frazer Harrison/AMA2015/Getty

Frazer Harrison/AMA2015/Getty

Billie Burke, who died at 85 in 1970, portrayed Glinda inThe Wizard of Oz. Grande is one in a long line of actors to portray the iconic witch on the big or small screen, with more than a dozen adaptations of Frank L. Baum’sOznovels made betweenThe Wizard of Oz’srelease andWickedhitting theaters.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Prior toWicked’s release,Michelle Williamswas the last actress to portray Glinda in a movie with 2013’sOz the Great and Powerful. The character also appeared in a number of television series in the years beforeWicked.

Marjorie Grande and Ariana Grande on April 26, 2016.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Arianashared a video on YouTubeall the way back in 2012 revealing that Marjorie and her grandfather, Frank, first met when Marjorie was 11 years old. Ariana’s grandparents began dating as teenagers and eventually welcomed two daughters, including Ariana and Frankie’s mother Joan.

Marjorie recently appeared as a featured artist on Ariana’s albumEternal Sunshineon its final track “ordinary things.” The feature made Marjorie theoldest person ever to chart on the Billboard Hot 100back in March.

source: people.com