Kris Jenner’s mother Mary Jo MJ Shannon dies at age 91

Kris Jenner has announced the death of her mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, who passed away at age 91 on Thursday, July 16, 2026, less than two weeks before her 92nd birthday. The Kardashian matriarch shared the news via an emotional Instagram post, describing her mother as “the heart of our family” and reflecting on the profound impact Shannon had on her life and the broader Kardashian-Jenner clan.

“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner wrote, her message echoed across multiple outlets. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye. 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.”

Shannon, born Mary Jo Campbell on July 26, 1934, in Arkansas, was the maternal grandmother of Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Rob Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and their cousin Natalie Zettel. Her legacy as a matriarch was marked by her resilience, humor, and unwavering dedication to her family. She appeared frequently on *Keeping Up with the Kardashians* and its successor, *The Kardashians*, where her candid remarks and warmth endeared her to fans. Her granddaughter Kylie Jenner even bears a tattoo of her name, penned in the handwriting of her late grandfather, Robert Houghton.

Shannon’s life was shaped by significant personal milestones. She married her first husband at 18 but later divorced, a decision she humorously compared to Kim Kardashian’s brief marriage in a 2016 episode of *KUWTK*. She later wed Robert True “Bob” Houghton in 1954, with whom she had Kris Jenner in 1955. After their divorce, she married businessman Harry Shannon, who died in a car crash in 2003 after 40 years of marriage. Shannon also lost her daughter Karen Houghton, who died of cardiac arrest in March 2024 at age 65.

Her battle with cancer, including surviving breast and colon cancers, underscored her strength. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenner expressed deep longing for her mother’s presence, noting the emotional toll of their separation. “I really miss MJ a lot,” she said in an August 2020 episode of *KUWTK*, “we always have things planned and talk about where we’re gonna go and what we’re gonna do.”

Shannon’s influence extended beyond her immediate family. Her grandchildren, including Kendall and Kylie Jenner, often spoke of her as a guiding force. “She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments,” Jenner wrote. “She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith.”

While the Kardashian and Jenner siblings have not yet publicly shared their own tributes, the family’s collective grief is evident. Jenner’s Instagram post, accompanied by a photo of her mother, emphasized the enduring bond they shared. “When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us,” she wrote. “There is not a part of me that isn’t shaped by you.”

Shannon’s passing marks the end of an era for the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty, a family that has long celebrated her as a cornerstone of their identity. Her legacy, as Jenner described, will live on “in our traditions, in every moment we are together, and in every life you touched.”