US3 min(s) read
Published 10:12 22 Oct 2025 GMT
Grace VanderWaal, the 21-year-old singer who became a household name after winning America’s Got Talent in 2016, has announced the heartbreaking loss of her mother.
Tina VanderWaal passed away at the age of 53 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer, which lasted over a year, per the Daily Mail.
The emotional news was shared by both Grace and her father, Dave VanderWaal, with Grace revealing her heartbreak on Instagram.
Grace took to social media to express her grief and share precious memories of her mother.
In her Instagram post, she wrote: “Can’t yet find the words. I love you mommy. So much. I wake up and want to call you. I don’t know how to move forward without you. I love you.”
The post was accompanied by a series of heartfelt photos, including one where Grace is seen hugging her mother while sitting in what appears to be a giant recliner.
Another photo shows a young Grace wearing a furry ushanka hat, smiling brightly as she sat beside Tina in a car.
In a lighthearted moment, Grace shared a funny video of herself and Tina, where she applied a filter that swapped their lips.
Tina's reaction was priceless: “Oh no, honey, that’s so lame!” before bursting into laughter at the quirky filter.
The day before Grace’s post, her father, Dave VanderWaal, shared the sad news on Facebook. He wrote: “Remembering the beautiful life and love of our amazing Tina.”
He then announced: “It’s hard to find the words to adequately express our family sorrow, but I want to share the sad news that our beloved Tina VanderWaal — 'Superwife' and Mother 'extraordinaire' — passed over to the Lord’s hands last night, October 20.”
Dave went on to reflect on Tina’s incredible strength, as she fought cancer for 17 months: “She was a fighter to the end of her long, 17-month battle with cancer, always finding a positive outlook no matter what — for herself and, even more importantly, for others facing the same difficult journey.”
He also praised Tina’s role in the family, sharing that she had been married to him for 27 years and was the mother of their three children: Grace, Jakob, and Olivia.
He wrote: “Tina truly was the heart of our family, filling our lives with creativity, laughter, and love... she brought light and joy to everything she touched.”
Dave concluded his tribute by expressing his faith and comfort in knowing that Tina was now in Heaven: “While our hearts ache, I take comfort in knowing that Tina is now in Heaven — her bright, shining light still guiding us.”
He ended the post with a hopeful sentiment: “I know we’ll see her again one day. Until then, we’ll hold tight to the love, joy, and beauty she gave us. She was a laser beam of light to all who knew her. Holding Tina’s beam of light in our hearts always.”
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