Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, the matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner household and a fixture on the family’s reality television shows, died Thursday at 91, just days before her 92nd birthday.
Kris Jenner announced her mother’s death in an emotional Instagram tribute celebrating MJ’s legacy.
“My mom was the heart of our family. She taught me everything that truly matters… to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted,” Jenner wrote.
“Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort knowing that love like yours never truly leaves us. Your love will live on in our family, in our traditions, in every moment we are together, and in every life you touched. When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us.”
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The highly successful “Momager” of six and grandmother of 13 credited her mother with shaping the woman she became, writing that everything she’s accomplished in life was because of MJ.
“I spent my life trying to live in a way that would make you proud,” Jenner said. “Every memory, every moment, every blessing, it was all because of you, and I will forever thank God every single day for making you my mommy.”
The Kardashian-Jenner siblings also grew up around MJ’s San Diego clothing boutique, Shannon & Company. Kim Kardashian has often credited her grandmother with teaching her valuable business lessons and giving her her first job.
“You were the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman,” Kim said in her Instagram tribute. “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.”
MJ became a fan favorite through recurring appearances on E!’s “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” and, more recently, Hulu’s “The Kardashians.”
One of MJ’s final appearances on the series came at her 90th birthday party, where she showed up in her quintessential black pantsuit and dark sunglasses, and toasted with a glass of wine before blowing out the candles alongside several of her great-grandchildren.
Known for her quick wit, MJ was frequently described by her grandchildren as the family’s jokester. Kim Kardashian even joked that her grandmother had a secret Instagram account used to stalk her family.
“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,” Kim said.
Although many fans viewed MJ as a Cali girl through and through, she was born in Arkansas in 1934 before eventually moving west, where she gave birth to Kris, then a few years later to Karen, who unexpectedly passed away in 2024 at the age of 65.
In a 2025 episode of The Kardashians, Kris said MJ had become “frail” following the loss of her daughter.
Jenner did not disclose a cause of death or provide additional details regarding her mother’s passing.
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