Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Parents that *truly* get along after a divorce is a rare thing. But it's something pop singer Ariana Grande made clear to her parents Joan Grande, 67, and Edward Butera, 66, was important to her coming into young adulthood. The Wicked actress, 31, explained to podcast host Marc Maron during an interview on his WTF with Marc Maron podcast how she reunited her parents after 18 years of not getting along following their divorce.

During the episode that aired on Monday, Feb. 10, Grande explained that she came to her parents in 2017 right before her 24th birthday. "They’re not together, but they’re best friends," she said. "It took 18 years and it took me forcing it. I forced them to communicate again. I really did."


She added, "I remember just kind of being at this pivotal point where I was just like, 'You guys, I love you both so much. It’s been such a long time. Figure it the f--- out,'" she recalled. "Like hello, it’s been 18 years. I’m 80 [years old]. Please get over it. And they did."

The discussion worked, and Grande gave an update on where her parents' relationship now stands today. "I can’t separate them. It’s the best thing in the whole world," she shared. “I guess they just had like, some sort of beautiful conversation or realized that like, how much they love me is so much louder than whatever nonsense happened way back when."

The transformation is one that Grande does not take for granted. "It really is beautiful, and if only they had the tools that I feel like we have now, this generation, with therapy and embracing that, maybe it could have happened sooner, but it was just the perfect thing…. It makes me really happy," she added.

Grande's parents divorced in 2003, according to E! News. Although Grande has remained close to her mother Joan, Grande struggled with a falling out with her father. She opened up about it in an interview with Seventeen back in 2014, sharing, "Falling out of touch with my dad. It's private, but it happened last year. It took me so long to be okay with it. The thing that got me there was embracing the fact that that I am made up of half my dad, and a lot of my traits come from him. So much of me comes from my father, and for so long, I didn't like that about myself. I had to accept that it's okay not to get along with somebody and still love them."

Over the years she has referenced her relationship with both her parents. In November 2019, Grande first hinted that things were in repair with her parents after they all spent Thanksgiving together for the first time in years. At the time, she shared on Instagram via E! News, "First Thanksgiving with both of my parents in 18 years!"

Grande also opened up more about her parents split during an interview on The Zach Sang Show in March 2024. "I think growing up you want what you don't have. My parents got divorced for all the right reasons. They weren't supposed to be together," she said.

More For You

Mom surprises blind son with a secret braille message he can feel
Generative photo by Canva

Mom surprises blind son with a secret braille message he can feel

When Karissa Livia sat down for her latest manicure, she wasn’t just thinking about a bold new design—she was planning a heartfelt surprise for her 15-year-old son, Shay. Shay, who is visually impaired, had previously enjoyed hearing his mom describe her nail colors. But this time, Karissa wanted to take it a step further.

The result? A manicure featuring a message in braille, spelled out with tiny rhinestones that Shay could feel. And the message? “Love U, Shay.”

Keep ReadingShow less

Sisters thought they were saying goodbye—then their dad made a surprising announcement

Saying goodbye to family is never easy, especially when it involves a father watching his daughters leave home to chase their dreams. One emotional TikTok video perfectly captured this bittersweet moment, showing a dad who couldn’t bear to simply wave goodbye—so he found a beautiful way to be part of the journey instead.

Brittney Swanzer (@brittneyswanzer) shared a touching video of the moment she and her sister prepared to leave Ohio for California. As they stood ready to say their goodbyes, their father stepped outside, already overcome with emotion. But what happened next took everyone by surprise.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man holds his head while sitting on a sofa.

Representative Image: Millennials have one common thought about how they were raised.

Millennials are finally saying what they wish their parents had said to them

Every generation seems to approach parenting with a unique set of tools—and blind spots. For many Millennials, that gap appears in one specific area: emotional support. When Reddit user u/Soup_stew_supremacy asked r/Millennials, “Do any of you struggle to get emotional support from your parents?”—the answers flooded in fast, and they struck a nerve.

In her post, she shared:

Keep ReadingShow less
Images from a baby name reveal.

The moment this mom realized her daughter's name had a hidden Batman connection.

They picked the perfect baby name—until a movie changed everything

When it comes to baby names, parents pull inspiration from all sorts of places—family history, beloved books, even favorite meals. But sometimes, a name carries a hidden meaning that only one parent is in on. That’s exactly what happened to TikTok user @viashoe, whose daughter's name has a secret connection to Batman that she didn’t discover until well after the birth.

A casual Thanksgiving reveal

In a now-viral TikTok, @viashoe shared the moment the puzzle pieces fell into place. While spending Thanksgiving with her husband’s family, they decided to watch Batman: The Animated Series—a classic from the '90s that's known for its dark tone and emotionally complex characters. As the show played in the background, someone in the family was entertaining their baby girl when a familiar voice on the screen said, “My wife, Nora…”

Keep ReadingShow less
Couples dancing at a wedding.

Representative Image: Her siblings saved her wedding with their heartfelt gesture.

Bride’s siblings gave her an unforgettable gift after their parents refused to show up to wedding

A wedding is meant to be a joyous occasion, a day filled with love and support from family and friends. But for many in the LGBTQIA+ community, that support isn’t always guaranteed. A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that 70% of LGBTQIA+ individuals experience some level of parental rejection.

Megan knew that reality all too well. When she married the love of her life, Brittany, her parents chose not to attend due to their religious beliefs. But rather than dwell on their absence, Megan’s siblings stepped up in a way that moved everyone to tears. They gave her a surprise father-daughter dance—one that she would never forget.

Keep ReadingShow less