Modern Family’s Frances Anderson Unveils Bold Name Change and Debut EP
Maya Rivers here, scribbling stanzas in the margins of a press release, a wannabe poet waxing lyrical about the article, even if it doesn’t quite deserve it.
Frances Anderson has embraced her middle name as she debuts her musical identity with her EP, Drown. At 18 years old, the former Aubrey Anderson-Emmons announced she will now be credited professionally as Frances Anderson, a nod to her own legal name and a tribute to her mother’s family friend. In an exclusive chat with E! News, Frances shared that she wanted a more concise moniker—“Frances is part of my legal name, my middle name, and it’s after my mom’s old family friend,” she explained—while marking a clear break from the long, hyphenated surname that fans have known since her time on Modern Family.
After spending a decade portraying Lily Tucker-Pritchett, Frances is ready to carve out her own lane in the music world. Her debut EP, Drown, is now available on all major streaming platforms, and each track swims in memories of adolescence. “A lot of my music is inspired by stuff when I was younger, from my kid days and my high school experiences,” Frances revealed to E! News. She hopes listeners will find honest reflections of first loves, awkward friendships and late-night diary entries embedded in her melodies.
The creative spark for her songwriting ignited during the pandemic. Frances recounted learning guitar over Zoom calls and refining her lyrics in high school music class. Before that she says she was always a singer, but it was only after she picked up a pen and chord chart that everything clicked. She stepped into her first recording studio in fall 2024—a milestone that felt like both an ending and a beginning.
Despite the show wrapping up when she was just 12, Frances admits she needed to step back from acting to find her voice. Homeschooled during her Modern Family years, she plunged into a traditional high school environment and rediscovered herself among peers. “I took time for myself and really found myself,” she said, underscoring how crucial that period was for her artistic rebirth.
Her on-screen dad, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, has been among her biggest champions. “He’s commented on my Story saying, ‘Wow, you sound so great,’ which is pretty awesome,” Frances shared. The duo stay in touch regularly, and his encouragement has meant the world to her as she navigates this new chapter.
While other Modern Family alum have ventured into Broadway, reality TV and voice work, Frances Anderson’s story is now defined by chords and verses. Though acting remains on her horizon—“I plan on acting again, 100 percent”—her current focus is on building a space where her music can breathe freely.
Keep an ear out and a tissue handy, because Frances Anderson’s songs promise to pull you under in the best way. So, keep your ears peeled and your heart open as Frances Anderson’s melody unfurls.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
