"It would not be the same, but it would still be genuine," she said in an interview ahead of her annual Thanksgiving celebration with stranger-turned-friend Jamal Hinton

An Arizona grandmother and the stranger she accidentally invited to Thanksgiving dinner in 2016 are celebrating their ninth holiday together, proving that even the most unexpected connections can lead to lifelong friendships.

A viral Thanksgiving tradition is set to continue for its ninth year. Jamal Hinton took to social media to announce his plans to spend Thanksgiving with "Grandma" Wanda Dench for the ninth consecutive year.

"Looking forward to a day filled with good food, great company, and lasting memories," Hinton wrote in a social media post

Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton, former strangers who met eight years ago in a mistaken text message exchange, are reuniting for their ninth Thanksgiving celebration this week.