40 Songs for Grandma to Dedicate on Her Birthday, Grandparents Day or Any Day

What is a good song to dedicate to grandma?

The songs about grandmothers people share most are "Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers, "Grandma's Feather Bed" by John Denver and "marjorie" by Taylor Swift. But often the song that makes a grandma light up is one from her own youth, the one she danced to with Grandpa. Combine one of each and you have the perfect dedication.

Songs written about grandmothers

1. "Grandma's Hands", Bill Withers: a soulful tribute to the hands that held the family together.
2. "Grandma's Feather Bed", John Denver: joyful memories of summers at her house.
3. "marjorie", Taylor Swift: written for her grandmother, about the advice that stays with you.
4. "Grandma's Song", Gail Davies: a gentle portrait of a grandmother's life.
5. "Remember Me", from Coco: the song a whole generation now links to their grandmother.
6. "Over the River and Through the Wood": the old Thanksgiving song about going to grandmother's house.
7. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", Elmo & Patsy: the funny Christmas classic, for a grandma with a sense of humor.

Songs from her youth that she will sing along to

For a grandmother born in the 1940s or 1950s, these are the songs of her teenage years and first dances:

8. "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)", Doris Day.
9. "Unforgettable", Nat King Cole.
10. "Moon River", Andy Williams.
11. "Can't Help Falling in Love", Elvis Presley.
12. "My Girl", The Temptations.
13. "Stand by Me", Ben E. King.
14. "Crazy", Patsy Cline.
15. "Be My Baby", The Ronettes.
16. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong.
17. "Dream a Little Dream of Me", Mama Cass.

For a younger grandma, born in the 1960s, try the 70s and 80s: Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, Earth, Wind & Fire or Whitney Houston.

Songs to thank grandma

18. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler: for the woman who lifted everyone up.
19. "Thank You for Being a Friend", Andrew Gold: for a grandma who is also a best friend.
20. "You Are My Sunshine": the song she may have sung to you.
21. "In My Life", The Beatles: for the people who shaped you.
22. "You've Got a Friend", Carole King.
23. "Because You Loved Me", Celine Dion.
24. "Coat of Many Colors", Dolly Parton: love sewn into every patch, a favorite for grandmas who sewed.

Country songs about grandmothers and grandparents

25. "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)", The Judds: for grandparents and their stories.
26. "Remember When", Alan Jackson: for grandparents who have been married for decades.
27. "Forever and Ever, Amen", Randy Travis: for a grandma and grandpa still holding hands.
28. "I Hope You Dance", Lee Ann Womack: the advice grandmas give.
29. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: the values grandparents pass down.

Songs the grandkids can perform for grandma

30. "This Little Light of Mine": a simple song little ones love to perform with hand motions.
31. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star": the first song most grandmas taught.
32. "You've Got a Friend in Me", Randy Newman.
33. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars.
34. "A Million Dreams", from The Greatest Showman.

Songs for grandma's birthday

35. "Happy Birthday", Stevie Wonder.
36. "Celebration", Kool & the Gang.
37. "Dancing Queen", ABBA: for the grandma who still dances.
38. "Sweet Caroline", Neil Diamond: the whole party sings along.
39. "Here Comes the Sun", The Beatles.
40. "Forever Young", Rod Stewart: a wish for many more birthdays.

Gift ideas in our guides to a birthday song for grandma and birthday gifts for grandma.

Songs about grandma and grandpa's love story

If your grandparents are still together after decades, celebrate the two of them: "Remember When" by Alan Jackson, "Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis, "Grow Old with You" by Adam Sandler or the song they danced to at their wedding. For an anniversary party, ask the grandkids to find out which song that was; it is usually the start of a wonderful story.

Songs for a new grandma

Becoming a grandmother for the first time is a milestone of its own. A song that welcomes the first grandchild, with the baby's name and hers in the same chorus, is a beautiful gift from the new parents. "You Are My Sunshine" and "Isn't She Lovely" also make sweet first songs for grandma to sing to the baby.

Music for a grandma in a care home

Many families find that the songs from a grandmother's youth spark memories, smiles and even singing, sometimes more than conversation does. If she lives in a care home or is living with memory loss, make her a short playlist of the music from her teens and twenties, play it on visits and share it with the staff. A song with her own name and the family's names can become a comforting part of her week.

When is Grandparents Day?

In the United States, National Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day, in September. Mother's Day, her birthday and Christmas are the other big moments to dedicate a song to grandma. For Mother's Day, see our guide to a Mother's Day song for grandma.

How do you play a song for grandma?

• Use a speaker, not a phone: many grandmas hear high notes less well.
• Print the lyrics in large type so she can follow along.
• Let a grandchild introduce the song.
• Choose a quiet moment, after dinner rather than in the middle of a noisy party, so she can really listen.
• Film her reaction: the family will want to see it again.
• If she lives far away or in a care home, play it over a video call and ask someone with her to turn up the volume.

A song written about her life

Grandmas have heard a lifetime of songs, but almost none with their own name in them. A personalized song can tell her story: the house everyone gathered in, the recipe nobody else gets right, the card games, the garden, the way she calls every grandchild "sweetheart", and the names of the grandkids in the chorus. It is a gift that makes her cry, then ask to hear it again, then call her sister to play it over the phone. For a grandmother who has passed, see our list of funeral songs for grandma.

How to create a song for grandma

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, swing, acoustic, gospel-inspired and more.
2. Add her name or what the grandkids call her (Nana, Grammy, Mimi), and up to two more names.
3. Share three memories with one concrete detail each.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose the one that sounds like her.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF you can print in large type.

Give her a song with her name in it: create a song for grandma and hear four previews for free.