Kris Jenner loses mother

Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of Kardashian-Jenner matriarch Kris Jenner, has died at the age of 91, leaving the famous family mourning the loss of a woman they described as their foundation and source of strength.

Kris Jenner, 70, announced her mother’s death on Thursday through a heartfelt social media tribute, writing: “Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ.”

The family did not immediately disclose the cause of death.

Campbell, also known as MJ Shannon, became a familiar figure to millions of viewers after making several appearances on the Kardashian-Jenner family’s reality television programmes, including Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which premiered in 2007, and its successor, The Kardashians.

Paying tribute to her mother, Kris Jenner said Campbell taught the family the importance of love, resilience and togetherness.

“She taught us that family is everything. She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments. She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith,” Jenner wrote.

Born in 1934, Campbell was just weeks away from celebrating her 92nd birthday on 26 July.

She was the mother of two daughters, Kris Jenner and Karen Houghton, who died from cardiac arrest in March 2024 at the age of 65.

Over the years, MJ became more than just a supporting figure on the family’s reality shows. Her outspoken personality, humour and life advice earned her a loyal following among viewers.

She was also admired by her family for surviving cancer twice and for her strong work ethic and determination.

The Kardashian-Jenner family celebrated Campbell’s 90th birthday during an episode of The Kardashians on Hulu, where she reflected on her greatest achievement.

“My biggest accomplishment was having my two daughters,” she said during the celebration.

At the event, Kris Jenner became emotional while speaking about the possibility of losing her mother, describing Campbell as her “best friend” and someone she could not imagine living without.

MJ responded at the time that she was not leaving anytime soon and joked that she would have to stay around for the next birthday celebration.

Following Campbell’s death, Kim Kardashian also paid tribute to her grandmother, describing her as “my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin”.

Kim said her grandmother taught her the importance of family values and played a significant role in shaping her approach to business.

“You were the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman,” Kim wrote.

She recalled that Campbell gave her one of her first jobs at her San Diego retail store, where she learned lessons about discipline, confidence and determination.

Those values later influenced Kim Kardashian’s business career, including the launch of her fashion and lifestyle brand Skims, while her sisters Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian have also built successful ventures.

Kris Jenner concluded her tribute by saying her mother’s influence would remain part of the family forever.

“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.”