Grace VanderWaal—who stole hearts and won the 11th season of America’s Got Talent at just 12, wowing audiences with her ukulele skills, soulful singing, and songwriting—has announced the death of her mother, Tina VanderWaal. Tina was 53, and her passing comes after a fight with cancer.
The 25-year-old former AGT champion turned to Instagram on October 21 to break the news and share a tender tribute, writing, “Words still feel out of reach right now. I love you mommy. So much. Every morning I wake up wanting to call you, and I have no idea how to keep going without you. I love you.”
Her post included a carousel of cherished moments with Tina: snapshots of the pair grinning together, laughing through a playful video filter, and a sweet text exchange—Tina had messaged her daughter, “Whatcha doin today? Miss you so much”—frozen in a screenshot.
For more details on Tina’s death, Grace’s father, Dave VanderWaal, took to Facebook to honor his late wife. He revealed Tina died on October 20, nearly 17 months after being diagnosed with cancer. According to a Pledge the Pink fundraiser page set up for Tina, she first shared her diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer in June 2024 and was in the middle of radiation treatments at the time. As of September 19, 2025, she’d finished two rounds of treatment but still had eight more ahead—and she’d been open about her journey on her own Instagram.
“Tina fought fiercely until the very end of her 17-month cancer battle,” Dave wrote. “No matter what she was going through, she always held onto unwavering positivity—not just for herself, but even more so for others walking the same hard path.”
He described Tina as “the heart of our family,” someone who filled their lives with creativity, laughter, and love. “Whether she was designing beautiful jewelry, helping others tap into their creative side, or making every holiday and family moment feel special—she brought light and joy to everything she touched,” he added.
Dave and Tina were married for 27 years, and together they raised three children: Jakob, 26; Grace, 25; and Olivia, 21. “I feel so blessed to have shared life with her and our three amazing kids,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dave shared plans to create a space for others to remember Tina: “In the next few days, I’ll post a link to a Celebration of Life page where everyone can honor her memory—and, if they wish, make a voluntary donation to a cancer organization in her name.”
Though grief weighs heavy, Dave found comfort in hope: “Our hearts are broken, but I take solace knowing Tina is in Heaven now—her bright light still guiding us from above. I know we’ll see her again someday. Until then, we’ll hold onto every bit of love, joy, and beauty she gave us. To everyone who knew her, she was a radiant, unwavering beam of light.”