Jesse Tyler Ferguson has spoken warmly about his ex Modern Family co-star Frances Anderson’s decision to leave acting and pursue a career in music, and made it clear he couldn’t be more proud of the direction she’s headed.
speaks to E! News at the 2026 Tony Awards on June 7, Ferguson, 50, reflected on watching the 19-year-old, who played his onscreen daughter on the long-running sitcom and recently changed her name from Aubrey Anderson-Emmons to mark her new musical chapter, forge her own path.
“I’m so proud of her, she’s really come into her own,” he said.
“She actually loves musical theatre. That’s what we bonded over, you know, even when she was about four or five years old. So the fact that she’s still interested in singing is so, I feel like a father to her and I’m very proud of her.”
Ferguson was at the Tonys with husband Justin Mitka, and while Frances has gone off screen since Modern Family ended, the connection between the two clearly has not.
Their shared love of musical theater was there from the very beginning of their working relationship, making her move into music feel like something of a full-circle moment for Ferguson.
