Singer Grace VanderWaal is mourning the death of her mother, Tina VanderWaal, who died on October 20 after a 17-month battle with breast cancer. She was 53. The 21-year-old “America’s Got Talent” winner shared the heartbreaking news in an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday, October 21.
(Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for iHeart)“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,” VanderWaal wrote, alongside a carousel of photos and videos capturing special moments with her mom.
One of the photos showed a screenshot of a text message from Tina that read, “Whatcha doin today? Miss you so much.”
Fans quickly flooded the comments with messages of love and support for the young singer, who first rose to fame at just 12 years old after winning “America’s Got Talent” in 2016.
Tina VanderWaal Remembered as ‘the Heart of Our Family’
Grace’s father, Dave VanderWaal, shared more details about his wife’s passing in a Facebook post. He wrote that Tina had been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in June 2024 and fought courageously until her final day.
“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 difficulty,” he wrote. “Tina truly was the heart of our family, filling our lives with creativity, laughter, and love.”
Dave added that his wife’s artistic spirit touched everyone around her. He wrote: “We were married for 27 wonderful years and were blessed with three incredible children — Jakob VanderWaal, Olivia VanderWaal Patterson, and Grace VanderWaal. Tina truly was the heart of our family, filling our lives with creativity, laughter, and love. Whether she was designing beautiful jewelry, teaching others to discover their creative spirit, or making every holiday and family moment special, she brought light and joy to everything she touched.”
The couple was married for 27 years and shared three children: Grace, Olivia, 25, and Jakob, 26.
A Creative Spirit Who Faced Cancer With Strength
Tina, a silversmith and glass artist, was open about her cancer journey on social media. In September, she shared a video on Instagram after completing her second round of radiation treatment. At the time, she said she had eight sessions remaining.
Her fundraising page detailed her diagnosis and treatment, describing her hope to raise awareness for others facing triple-negative breast cancer. Throughout her illness, Tina maintained a positive attitude and a focus on uplifting others.
Grace VanderWaal Reflects on Her Mom’s Influence
(Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium)In an April essay for Teen Vogue, VanderWaal described her mom as her biggest supporter and source of strength. She called Tina “literally the funniest, most loudest, most just everything woman.”
“You’ll hear her laugh watching the TV from three floors up,” VanderWaal wrote. “As I was experiencing this early success, this viral fame, I felt like I was in control, but there are a lot of environmental variables that people don’t take into account. My mom was with me everywhere I went.”
VanderWaal, who released her debut studio album “Just the Beginning” in 2017 and her latest record “Childstar” in April 2024, often credited her mother for keeping her grounded.
As she mourns her mother’s passing, VanderWaal’s heartfelt words reflect both grief and gratitude for a woman she called her “greatest gift.”
