Kim Kardashian honours late grandmother MJ on her 92nd birthday
Synopsis
Just eleven days after losing her grandmother Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon, Kim Kardashian marked what would have been MJ's 92nd birthday with fresh Instagram tributes — revealing that going through her grandmother's belongings with Kris Jenner had uncovered stories she never knew. A rare, unguarded moment of grief from one of the world's most watched families.
Key Takeaways
Kim Kardashian paid tribute to her late grandmother Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon on what would have been her 92nd birthday on 27 July .
MJ Shannon passed away on 16 July , just 11 days before the birthday tribute.
Kardashian revealed she has been going through MJ's belongings with her mother Kris Jenner , discovering new family stories.
MJ gave Kardashian her first job at her store in San Diego , which Kardashian credits as a formative influence on her work ethic.
Kardashian described MJ as 'the matriarch of our family' and 'my best friend.'
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian paid a deeply personal tribute to her late grandmother, Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon, on what would have been her 92nd birthday on 27 July. Kardashian shared a series of photographs with MJ on Instagram, accompanied by an emotional caption revealing that sorting through her grandmother's belongings with her mother Kris Jenner had uncovered new stories she had never heard before.
The Birthday Message
'Happy Heavenly 92nd Birthday grandma! It's only been a week but wow the amount of things I've learned about you this week from going through all of your stuff with mom has been beautiful!' Kardashian wrote in her caption.
She added: 'I thought I knew it all! Makes me respect you and love you more if that's even possible. Today we celebrate you! I miss you like crazy and I love you endlessly my sweet grandma MJ.'
MJ's Passing and the First Tribute
Mary Jo Shannon passed away on 16 July, just eleven days before what would have been her 92nd birthday. Following her death, Kardashian had shared an earlier tribute describing her grandmother as 'my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin.'
In that initial post, she credited MJ with shaping her professional identity: 'You gave me my very first job at your store in San Diego and taught me lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that I've carried with me ever since.'
A Family Matriarch Remembered
Kardashian described MJ as the cornerstone of the Kardashian-Jenner family, writing: 'You truly were the matriarch of our family, and your love is woven into all of us.' She also asked her grandmother to pass on a hug to late family members — 'Papa Harry, Aunt Karen, and my dad' — in a line that underscored the personal weight of the loss.
In a lighter moment, Kardashian recalled MJ's habit of secretly following the family's social media activity: 'I know you are up in heaven, looking at all of our Instagram posts of you from your sneaky finsta account you would always use.' The aside offered a glimpse of the warmth and humour that defined their relationship.
What the Tributes Reveal
The back-to-back posts — one at death, one at birthday — reflect how publicly the Kardashian-Jenner family processes grief, a pattern consistent with the family's decade-long practice of sharing major personal milestones on social media. Notably, Kardashian's acknowledgement of discovering 'new stories' through MJ's belongings suggests a continuing, private process of mourning alongside the public one. For millions of followers, the tribute also humanises a family more often seen through the lens of celebrity and commerce.
Point of View
One at birthday — are worth reading together. The first was a polished eulogy; the second is something rawer, with Kardashian admitting she is still learning who her grandmother was. That gap between public persona and private discovery is the more interesting story here. For a family that has built an empire on self-disclosure, the acknowledgement that there were still untold stories about MJ is a quiet reminder that even the most documented lives hold private depths. It also raises a broader question about how celebrity grief, performed publicly in real time, shapes the way audiences relate to loss.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon?
Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon was the maternal grandmother of Kim Kardashian and the mother of Kris Jenner. She passed away on 16 July, and Kardashian has described her as the matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family.
When did Kim Kardashian's grandmother MJ pass away?
MJ Shannon passed away on 16 July, approximately 11 days before what would have been her 92nd birthday on 27 July.
What did Kim Kardashian write in her birthday tribute to MJ?
Kardashian wrote 'Happy Heavenly 92nd Birthday grandma!' and shared that going through MJ's belongings with Kris Jenner had revealed new stories about her grandmother's life, deepening her respect and love for her.
What role did MJ play in Kim Kardashian's career?
According to Kardashian, MJ gave her her very first job at her store in San Diego, teaching her lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that she says she has carried throughout her career.
Where did Kim Kardashian share the birthday tribute?
Kardashian shared the tribute on Instagram, posting a series of photographs alongside an emotional caption marking MJ's 92nd birth anniversary.
