Former Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain would be “smugly proud” of his daughter, his mother has said in an emotional tribute.

Frances Bean Cobain – who was only 20 months old when her father died in 1994 – was brought to tears after her grandmother, Wendy Cobain, wrote the message on what would have been the rock star’s 50th birthday.

Frances Bean, 24, posted a screenshot of a text message from Wendy on Instagram which read: “You were such a caring loving little girl and have turned into such a beautiful young woman.

“He would be so ‘smugly’ proud of you, saying ‘Hey, that’s MY daughter’.”

She added: “I love you with all my heart. Thank god you were here for me to love & care for.”

Wendy was replying to a text from her granddaughter which said: “I love you so much thank you for being my one and only grams.

“I wouldn’t trade you for the world and I know he is so thankful that you raised me to be as strong & compassionate as you are.”

Frances Bean, whose mother is Courtney Love, captioned the Instagram post: “Not gonna lie, I cried a little. I love you grams.”

Earlier she had uploaded a picture of a handwritten note to her father, in which she thanked him for giving her “the gift of life”.

The US musician was born on February 20 1967 and died at the age of 27.