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Granny Bird profile
PERFORMER Caroll Spinney 1969-2014
  Jennifer Barnhart 2018-present
DEBUT 1969

Granny Bird is Big Bird's paternal grandmother, who first appeared in Episode 0030. She is almost identical in appearance to her grandson except for her clothes, the gray feathers in her forehead, faded eyelids, and eyeglasses. In Episode 3006, it is revealed that Granny Bird is Big Bird's grandmother on his father's side.

The puppet used for Granny Bird is usually a spare Big Bird puppet. During Caroll Spinney's tenure as Big Bird, Spinney also performed Granny Bird. The two would not appear onscreen together until the early 1990s. In instances where they have shared scenes, Spinney often pre-recorded Granny Bird's dialogue, which would be synced by another puppeteer while Spinney performed Big Bird. Matt Vogel voiced her in a short appearance in the Sesame Beginnings video, Beginning Together. Since Episode 4826 in 2018, Jennifer Barnhart has taken over the character.

Granny Bird's residence has changed over the years, beginning with a place downtown from Sesame Street mentioned in Episode 0078. She also lives on a farm mentioned in Episode 0400 (specifically a chicken farm in Episode 0325), deep in the woods at 12 Forest Road in Episode 3006, a house that appears to be out in the country in the 1988 storybook Nothing to Do, and a beach house in I Want to Go Home!

Big Bird has referenced "my grandmother" on Zhima Jie: Da Niao Kan Shijie, a Chinese co-production, and she has appeared in animated form on Sesame Street Japan's YouTube channel. (YouTube)

Episodes[]

Image Episode/Year Description
Granny Bird 0030
Episode 0030
(1969)
Granny Bird comes to visit her grandson in her first appearance on the show.
1589 01
Episode 1589
(1981)
Granny Bird pays a surprise visit while her grandson is out (trying to make a surprise visit to her place).
1717d
Episode 1717
(1982)
Granny Bird visits and bonds with David's grandmother Grace.
1932f
Episode 1932
(1984)
As they watch David and Akim rollerskate, Granny Bird encourages Grandma Grace — who hasn't skated since she was Akim's age — to give it a try. Granny Bird skates circles around them, but eventually takes a fall; "If you're young enough to skate, ya gotta be young enough to fall down!"
3006h
Episode 3006
(1992)
Big Bird visits Granny Bird on Grandma's Day, and finds a wolf sleeping in her bed. Fearing the worst, Big Bird accuses the wolf of eating Granny Bird, but it turns out that this is Granny Wolf, Granny Bird's best friend. Big Bird had the addresses mixed up -- Granny Bird lives on 12 Forest Road, and Granny Wolf at 12 Forest Street.
GrannyVisits
Episode 3517
(1996)
Big Bird is sad when he learns Granny Bird's plane is delayed and she might not visit as planned. He later becomes angry, even when Granny Bird arrives after all. She briefly leaves, angering Big Bird again, but returns with a song that they can sing whenever they're apart.
3979zb
Episode 3979 & 3980
(2001)
When Big Bird's nest is destroyed in a hurricane, Granny Bird provides suggestions over the phone about how to rebuild the nest. This was later released on home video as Friends to the Rescue.
4039e
Episode 4039
(2003)
Big Bird receives a package of birdseed cookies from Granny Bird and imagines telling her he loves her; his thought bubble responds back.
4086g
Episode 4086
(2005)
Big Bird and Alan bake birdseed cookies for Granny Bird's visit.
4149g
Episode 4149
(2007)
Granny Bird appears to Big Bird in a thought egg to remind him that birds always have a song in their hearts.
4826a
Episode 4826
(2018)
Granny Bird appears in the opening and closing scenes with Big Bird. She's knitted her grandson a sweater that shrunk in the wash, making it the perfect size for Radar.
5001-Granny
Episode 5001
(2019)
Granny Bird is among those to bid farewell to Big Bird as he leaves for a road trip.
5132g
Episode 5132
(2021)
Granny Bird flies to Sesame Street to surprise Big Bird on Family Day.
5333h
Episode 5333
(2023)
Granny Bird joins everyone for the Grandparents' Day celebration.

Other appearances[]

Book appearances[]

GrannyBirdIllustrated
BigBird-and-GrannyBird

Granny Bird makes a substantial appearance in the 1989 Little Golden Book I Can't Wait Until Christmas. In illustrated form, Granny Bird loses her gray feathers and consequently looks even more like Big Bird, although she does sport a pair of pince-nez eyeglasses.

See also[]

External links[]

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