“7 Little Johnstons” Star Emma Johnston Shares Heartbreaking Goodbye Video as Nana Passes Away: “Our Nana Is in Heaven With Poppy”

The 7 Little Johnstons fandom is in tears tonight. Just days after celebrating one of the happiest announcements in recent show history, the Johnston family has revealed devastating news: Nana — the beloved mother of Trent Johnston — has passed away.

The news was broken by Emma Johnston, who shared it with fans on Instagram on Saturday, October 4. And the way she did it has left viewers reaching for the tissues.

Emma’s Heartbreaking Announcement — “Our Nana Is in Heaven With Poppy”

Emma didn’t share a press release. She shared something far more personal: a tender video of herself painting Nana’s nails as the family matriarch lay in bed wearing a nasal cannula. Alongside it, she wrote: “Our Nana is in heaven with Poppy, watching over all of us. We love you, and I miss you [so much].”

That one word — Poppy — says everything. The Poppy of the family was Walter “Pete” Lawrence Johnston, Trent’s father, who died in 2024. Now, just two years later, Nana has joined him.

Who Was Nana? The Beloved Matriarch Behind the Johnstons

To longtime viewers, Nana needs no introduction. Mary Alice Maddox Johnston was a frequent presence on the show over the years — the quiet, steady heart of the family who never needed the spotlight to earn the fandom’s love.

In a moment that now feels hauntingly prophetic, Nana reflected on her own mortality in an episode that aired this past February. Fans are now rewatching that scene with fresh eyes — and fresh grief — realizing that goodbye may have been closer than anyone knew.

For a family that has been through its share of fractures and feuds, Nana was one of the few figures everyone rallied around. Her passing leaves a hole that no storyline can fill.

Fans Flood the Comments With Love and Prayers

It didn’t take long for the fandom to respond. Within hours of Emma’s post, messages of sympathy poured in

from viewers who have followed this family since 2015 — many saying Nana felt like their own grandmother too. For a fanbase that has spent the last year bitterly divided over the family’s feud with Anna, the grief over Nana became a rare moment of unity: old arguments set aside, the comments turned into a wall of love.

A Bittersweet Season 16 Premiere — Just Days Away

The news lands at an especially emotional moment: TLC is gearing up for a brand-new season. 7 Little Johnstons returns with its Season 16 premiere on Tuesday, October 14, at 10/9c.

According to TLC, the new episodes find the family “stepping into uncharted territory as the kids grow into adulthood.” Liz Johnston and Brice Bolden are raising baby daughter Leighton while figuring out parenting, with talk of buying property and possibly getting engaged. Trent faces a health scare due to untreated sleep apnea — and is warning sons Jonah and Alex to better manage their own sleep apnea. And Trent and Amber remain at odds with daughter Anna, though they say they’re keeping the lines of communication open.

TLC also teases lighter moments ahead: scavenger hunts, a family fall festival, and even an Asian-inspired Thanksgiving in honor of Emma’s heritage.

Now fans are asking the question on everyone’s mind: will the new season include a tribute to Nana? Viewers say it would be the only fitting way to honor the matriarch — and to remind everyone what this family looks like when it stands together.

So here’s the question: what is YOUR favorite Nana moment from the show — and should TLC dedicate the Season 16 premiere to her memory?

Share your favorite memory below and let’s fill this comment section with love. Rest in peace, Nana. 🕊️