AGT Star Grace VanderWaal’s Mother Tina Dies After 17-Month Breast Cancer Battle

Tina VanderWaal, mother of America's Got Talent season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal, passed away at 53 after a 17-month battle with aggressive triple negative breast cancer. Grace, 21, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram expressing her deep grief and difficulty moving forward without her mother. Tina was described by her husband Dave VanderWaal as a "Superwife" and "Mother extraordinaire," who remained positive throughout her illness and was a source of creativity and love for the family. Tina's illness included a brain tumor surgery as part of her cancer treatment, which she openly discussed in support of raising awareness for this aggressive cancer type. Throughout Grace's rise to fame, Tina was a grounding and protective presence, helping her daughter navigate sudden global recognition and providing emotional support. The family announced plans for a celebration page to honor Tina's life and encourage contributions to cancer research in her memory.