This Modern Family star is embracing a new chapter. Though she was known as Aubrey Anderson-Emmons while portraying Lily on the beloved sitcom, the 18-year-old has changed her moniker to Frances Anderson as she steps into a new era as a musician.
“Frances is actually part of my legal name-it’s my middle name and it’s after my mom’s old family friend,” she shared in an exclusive interview with E! News’ Francesca Amiker, “I thought, one, it was a bit shorter than ‘Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.’ I do have a long, hyphenated last name.” Plus, she noted, “I wanted to switch it up and I wanted people to see a new side of me. And I wanted to create a space specifically just for music. And I’m so excited for everybody to hear the songs on the EP and I’m so grateful.” An EP, titled Drown, that is available now on all major platforms for fans to dive into-and one she hopes they’ll connect with.
“A lot of my music is inspired from stuff when I was younger, when I was a kid,” she explained. “A lot about what my experiences were like in high school, and I hope that people find it relatable.” And for those who might feel the deep emotion of her music, Frances quipped, “I am a teenager I guess, I just turned 18. I feel like that’s peak edginess.”
The actress also explained when she first felt drawn to pivoting into the music industry. “I learned how to play guitar during COVID,” she said. “And I learned to really write during my high school music class and before then I’ve always been a singer. One of my big dreams in life was to be on Broadway. I’m still hoping to do that one day-fingers crossed.”
So while singing lessons were a staple throughout her life, it was the act of starting to write music that changed everything, and she eventually stepped into her first studio in the fall of 2024. “I think I really had to take a step back from acting,” Frances added of how she discovered her musical passion. “The show ended when I was 12 years old, so after that I decided I’m not gonna act anymore. And I do now, I plan on acting again-100 percent.”
But, after a childhood being homeschooled while she worked on Modern Family, being able to enter mainstream schooling with kids her own age made all the difference. As she put it, “I took time for myself and really found myself.” Plus, she still has her TV family there to support her creative endeavors-including her onscreen dad Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
“I keep in touch with Jesse the most,” she revealed. “He’s commented every now and then and pulled up on my Story and been like, ‘Wow, you sound so great.’ Which is awesome. He’s always been so supportive.”