Ellen DeGeneres Mourns Mary Jo Shannon, 91, as Kardashians Thank Her for Tribute

Q: How did another recent family death contribute to the Kardashian matriarch's passing?

The recent death of MJ Shannon’s daughter, Karen Houghton, appears to have significantly worsened MJ’s health in the months before her own death. According to Kris Jenner, Karen’s death in March 2024 left MJ “super sad” and emotionally shaken. Kris said she noticed a clear decline afterward, describing her mother as increasingly frail and struggling physically. MJ was also reported to have mobility problems and pain during that period. No official cause of death for MJ was given in the reports, so it would be inaccurate to say Karen’s death directly caused it. But Kris’s own comments indicate the loss had a serious impact on MJ’s emotional state and overall well-being, contributing to her decline. In short, the earlier family death deepened MJ’s grief, weakened her health, and was seen by the family as an important factor in the deterioration that preceded her passing at 91.

Q: What crucial business lesson did Kim Kardashian learn from her grandmother MJ?

Kim Kardashian said her grandmother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, taught her what it means to be a hardworking businesswoman. Kim has credited MJ with giving her first job at MJ’s San Diego boutique, Shannon & Company, where she learned the basics that later shaped her career: strong work ethic, confidence, and resilience. MJ’s example as a successful store owner showed Kim how to approach business with discipline and independence. In tributes after MJ’s death, Kim described her grandmother as both a personal role model and an early professional influence, saying those lessons stayed with her throughout her rise as an entrepreneur.

Q: What legacy did the two-time cancer survivor truly leave behind for her family?

Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon’s lasting legacy was the set of values and example she embedded in the Kardashian-Jenner family: fierce devotion to family, resilience in hardship, and a strong sense of independence and work ethic. Kris Jenner described her mother as “the heart of our family,” saying MJ taught them that “family is everything,” how to love unconditionally, and how to find joy in small moments. Kris also emphasized MJ’s resilience and faith, saying her mother showed the family how to face life’s challenges with strength. That message carried extra weight because MJ survived both colon and breast cancer. Her influence was not only emotional but practical. Kim Kardashian said MJ was her “best friend” and credited her grandmother with teaching her business discipline, confidence, and strength. Kim has said MJ gave her her first job at Shannon & Company, MJ’s San Diego boutique, helping shape the work ethic that became central to the family’s business culture. MJ also left a visible cultural imprint on the family. Through her appearances on their reality shows, she became known for her wit, warmth, and steady presence as the family matriarch. Relatives and friends repeatedly described her as a grounding force whose love and traditions held generations together. In the family’s own telling, MJ’s legacy lives on in their habits, traditions, and relationships: a model of kindness, perseverance, and showing up for the people you love.

3 articles · Updated · E! NEWS · Jul 19

July 17 brought a public tribute from Ellen DeGeneres, who told Kris Jenner she and Portia de Rossi were sending love after Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon died July 16 at 91.
Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian replied in Ellen's Instagram comments, thanking her and calling her a great friend to Kris during the family's grief.
Kris Jenner's own announcement drew condolences from Stassie Karanikolaou, Selma Blair and artist Ash K. Holm, extending support beyond the Kardashian-Jenner family.
In that post, Kris, 70, called her mother "the heart of our family" and said MJ's love, resilience and faith would live on through family traditions and shared moments.