Grandma Lee

Frances Lee Strong, known by her stage name Grandma Lee, was an American stand-up comedian. Born on May 29, 1934, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After her father's death, she ended up in a children's home in Kentucky. Frances graduated with a degree in English education from Otterbein University in Ohio in 1956. In 1958, she married Ben Strong, a career U.S. Marine, and they raised four children while moving around the world. Frances briefly worked as a newspaper reporter at the Cleveland Press. She began her stand-up comedy career in her 60s, gaining recognition for her off-color humor. Grandma Lee rose to prominence as a contestant on America's Got Talent in 2009. She passed away on April 24, 2020.