Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon, mother to Kris Jenner and grandmother to the Kardashians and Kendall and Kylie Jenner, has died at age 91.
Kris Jenner confirmed the news on her Instagram account with a photo of her mother. In a caption, Jenner stated that there are no words to capture the heartbreak of saying goodbye and described her mother as the heart of their family.
In her tribute, Jenner shared that Shannon taught her to love family fiercely, to be kind, and to show up for loved ones. She noted that Shannon demonstrated how to face life's challenges with resilience and faith.
Jenner also expressed that her mother's love will live on through the family's traditions and every life she touched. She credited her mother for shaping who she is today and mentioned that her heart is broken by the loss.
Born Mary Jo Campbell on July 26, 1934, in Arkansas, Shannon was married to Robert True 'Bob' Houghton in 1954. Following a split from Bob, she married businessman Harry Shannon, who was Kris Jenner's stepfather.
Shannon was a regular presence on the reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians from 2007 to 2021, as well as its follow-up, The Kardashians. Her declining health had been discussed on The Kardashians, particularly following the death of Jenner's sister, Karen, in 2024.
