Frankie Grande Shares How He and Ariana Will Honor Nonna This Holiday Season
Frankie Grande shared the ways his family plans to commemorate their cherished Nonna, Marjorie Grande, throughout their initial holiday period following her passing.
"We possess certain decorative ornaments that bring her to mind, and a photograph of us together will be placed on the Christmas tree," he disclosed exclusively to Us Weekly at Out Magazine's Out100 gathering held on Friday, November 21, in Hollywood.
Frankie, who is 42, mentioned that he and his sibling, Ariana Grande, intend to uphold Nonna's customary practices, such as preparing some of her renowned dishes.
"We're going to prepare Nonna's meatballs and her zeppole. She had a particular recipe that she transmitted to my mother, and subsequently to both me and Ari, which we have been preparing annually as she hasn't been physically capable of standing at the stove for several years now," he clarified. "It will feel distinctly different to make it without her physical presence. However, we are certain she is present in spirit; she is observing us."
Ariana Grande Grieves the Passing of Her Cherished Grandmother, 'Nonna,' Who Died at 99
The performer quipped that Nonna would probably "have feedback" regarding the festive meals he and Ariana, 32, intend to create in her honor.
"She'll catch the scent of that garlic sizzling in the hot oil, and her reaction will be, 'Smells delightful.' In reality, she'll probably offer criticisms," he remarked. "Indeed, she'll provide critiques. She'll comment, 'There's an excessive amount of milk in that!'"
Frankie expresses the most enthusiasm for the Christmas festivities occurring in New York.
"I adore the Rockettes. Therefore, my strong desire is to attend a Rockettes performance," he informed Us regarding his forthcoming holiday agenda. He additionally made a point to acknowledge his younger sister prior to Ariana's role as host of Saturday Night Live's Christmas installment, featuring musical talent Cher.
"I'd like to witness Cher performing a Christmas tune on SNL. I absolutely must be present for that alongside my sister, which will be enjoyable. I appreciate it immensely when Ariana takes on hosting duties, so I eagerly anticipate her performance," Frankie declared.
He is furthermore anticipating the chance to get sufficient rest, observing that his itinerary has been demanding recently.
"The Christmas period is already filled with activities. Goodness! I'll be embarking on the Slay Ride tour alongside Alyssa Edwards and Kori King. [We're] visiting both politically 'red' and 'purple' regions, in addition to some 'blue' ones, so do check the tour itinerary. [I'm] releasing a new track on December 5," Frankie divulged. "Honestly, by Christmas, I hope to be fast asleep."
Frankie discussed his forthcoming memoir, Supergay!, with Us, which is slated for release next year, hinting that the publication will contain "numerous anecdotes about Nonna" from beginning to end.
Ariana Grande's Sibling Frankie Claims 'No One Is Arranging Plans' for the Academy Awards
"I am truly thankful that we've already initiated the custom of recounting the wonderful narratives about my Nonna," he stated, chuckling when questioned about Ariana recounting his coming-out tale on a recent installment of Amy Poehler's podcast.
"We consistently exchange our family anecdotes," he responded. "The continuation of the story is even more amusing. My goodness. Nonna truly possessed a unique personality. It's the most wonderful aspect in existence."
Frankie and Ariana's maternal grandmother passed away in June at the age of 99. The family disseminated this information by re-sharing a heartfelt tribute from their mother, Joan Grande.
Ariana Grande Announces Schedule for Her Inaugural Tour in Seven Years Following 'Wicked' Triumph
"We are heartbroken to inform you that the revered matriarch of our household has departed," the announcement conveyed. "Marjorie (Nonna) Grande transitioned peacefully within her residence, enveloped by her relatives and cherished individuals throughout the entirety of her final weeks. We extend our gratitude for your affection, assistance, and for honoring our privacy as we mourn and commemorate her remarkable, exceptional life."
Frankie participated alongside numerous other LGBTQIA+ celebrities at the Out100 event, an occasion that spotlights the most impactful figures within the queer community.
The evening's program featured Niecy Nash-Betts receiving the Icon Award through a video message owing to scheduling conflicts, Kathy Griffin being honored as Advocate of the Year by Sia, and Boots actor Miles Heizer recognized as one of the Out100 award recipients.
Sophia Bush was present with her partner, football icon Ashlyn Harris; similarly, Anna Camp, who disclosed her identity in May, Magic Johnson's offspring EJ Johnson, Scandal actor Guillermo Díaz, and others also attended.
