If you’ve ever watched a video of Ariana Grande accepting an award, you’ve seen her. The woman with the sharp black wardrobe, the piercing eyes, and that unmistakable "don’t mess with my kids" energy. That’s Joan Grande. Most people just see her as the supportive mom in the front row. But honestly? Calling her just a "stage mom" is a massive understatement.
Joan is a CEO. She’s an engineer. She’s the person who allegedly escorted a group of fans to safety during the horrific 2017 Manchester bombing. Basically, she’s the blueprint for the "badass, independent woman" Ariana constantly references in her lyrics.
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The CEO Life: Not Your Average Soccer Mom
Forget cookies in the oven. Joan Grande was busy running a communications empire while raising a future pop icon. Since the mid-60s, the Grande family has owned Hose-McCann Communications. Joan serves as the President and CEO of the company.
What do they actually do? They manufacture high-end marine communication equipment. We’re talking about rugged, "virtually indestructible" telephone and alarm systems used by the U.S. Navy and the Marines.
Imagine being a kid and your mom is literally responsible for the tech that keeps Coast Guard ships running. It’s no wonder Ariana has that workaholic streak. Joan didn't just inherit a title; she navigated a male-dominated industry for decades. She eventually moved the business from Brooklyn to Florida, and later, she helped launch Diamond Dog Entertainment.
This newer venture isn't about ship phones. It’s a production company focused on "fostering talent." You can see the overlap. She’s got the corporate grit of a Brooklyn CEO mixed with the creative intuition needed to manage a global superstar’s life.
That Time at the 2025 Golden Globes
Fast forward to January 2025. Ariana is at the Golden Globes for Wicked. She brings Joan as her date. Most celebs do the boring "I'm so proud of my daughter" routine on the red carpet. Not Joan.
While being interviewed, she met Harrison Ford. Instead of a polite "nice to meet you," Joan dropped an NSFW joke about the legendary actor that had Ariana—and the internet—absolutely losing it. It was peak Joan. She’s unfiltered, hilariously blunt, and clearly doesn't care about the Hollywood "script."
This wasn’t just a viral moment. It showed the dynamic they have. They’re friends. Ariana often says she "grew from the drama" of her parents' divorce, and it's well-known she didn't speak to her father, Edward Butera, for a long time. Joan was the constant. She was the one who moved to L.A. with Ariana when she was just a kid to pursue the Victorious gig.
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Heroism in Manchester: What Really Happened
We can’t talk about Joan Grande without mentioning May 22, 2017.
When the bomb went off at the Manchester Arena, Joan was still in her seat. While the natural instinct for most people is to run away, Joan did the opposite. Multiple reports from that night describe her heading toward the stage to find Ariana.
But it wasn't just about her daughter. She reportedly saw a group of young fans—roughly 10 of them—who were terrified and lost in the chaos. She didn't leave them. She brought them backstage into Ariana's dressing room and stayed with them until it was safe to exit.
"I was like a fish swimming in the wrong direction. Everyone was leaving, and I was going toward the stage," Joan later told Elle.
She didn't just sit in a trailer. During the One Love Manchester benefit concert, she was seen walking through the crowd, hugging teenagers and telling them not to be afraid. That kind of leadership doesn't come from a PR training manual. It comes from being a mother who understands the weight of what those kids were feeling.
The "Thank U, Next" Evolution
It took 18 years, but Joan and Edward Butera finally became friends. Ariana talked about this on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast recently. She basically sat them down and told them to "figure the f--- out" because she was tired of the tension.
Now, they’re actually "best friends." You’ll see them at hockey games together or posing for birthday photos. It’s a rare Hollywood happy ending for a divorced family.
Joan is now 68. She still wears mostly black. She still tweets (or Xs) her unfiltered thoughts about everything from politics to her "brilliant" granddaughter (Ariana’s vocal talent).
How to Apply the "Joan Grande" Energy to Your Life
You don't need to be the CEO of a naval communications company to take a page out of Joan’s book. Here is what we can actually learn from how she handled her daughter’s fame and her own career:
- Work-Life Integration over Balance: Joan didn't stop being a CEO to be a mom. She brought her kids into her world. Show your kids (or your circle) what hard work actually looks like.
- Unapologetic Authenticity: If you want to make an NSFW joke to Harrison Ford at the Golden Globes, do it. Life is too short for a "corporate" personality 24/7.
- Calm Under Pressure: In a crisis, be the person walking "against the flow" to help others.
- Forgiveness takes time: Don't rush the healing process. If it takes 18 years to be friends with an ex or a family member, let it take 18 years.
If you want to keep up with the latest on the Grande family, the best move is to follow Joan on social media directly—she's often the first one to leak behind-the-scenes tidbits that the official PR teams haven't cleared yet. You can also check out the Diamond Dog Entertainment website to see the projects she's currently funding in the indie film and theater space.