If you close your eyes and think of Lily Tucker-Pritchett, you probably hear a very specific, very monotone voice delivering a devastating insult to a grown adult. It was the "Modern Family" formula. Two dads, one snarky kid, and a lot of deadpan delivery. Aubrey Anderson-Emmons basically grew up on our TV screens, starting the show when she was just four years old.
But if you look for her today, you won’t find her under that name—at least not if you're looking at her music career.
Now 18, the actress has officially pivoted. She’s going by Frances Anderson these days. It’s not just a stage name for the sake of it; Frances is actually her legal middle name. She recently told E! News that she wanted to "switch it up" and give people a chance to see a side of her that wasn't just "the kid from that sitcom." Honestly, it makes sense. Imagine being 18 and having the world still treat you like the five-year-old who accidentally said a curse word on ABC.
The Real Story Behind the Pivot to Music
Most child stars go one of two ways: they either stay in the machine or they disappear entirely. Aubrey—or Frances—is doing something sort of in-between. She didn't just quit acting because she hated it. In fact, she’s been pretty vocal about the fact that she plans to return to acting "100 percent."
But music is the priority right now.
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In August 2025, she dropped her debut EP called Drown. If you’re expecting bubbly Disney-pop, you’re going to be surprised. It’s much more in the vein of indie-folk and pop. She’s cited legends like Joni Mitchell and Jeff Buckley as her inspirations. Her first single, "Telephones and Traffic," actually touches on her early childhood. It’s got this moody, introspective vibe that feels lightyears away from the bright, saturated colors of the Dunphy-Pritchett households.
Growing Up in the Spotlight (The Parts We Didn't See)
Being a child star isn't all red carpets and gift bags.
Aubrey has been surprisingly candid on TikTok about the "troubled" aspects of growing up on TV. She wasn't forced into it—her mom, comedian Amy Anderson, has always been her biggest supporter—but four-year-olds don't really know what a contract means. They don't know that millions of people will eventually have opinions on their acting ability before they’ve even finished elementary school.
She’s mentioned struggling with the rejection of the audition circuit after the show ended in 2020. People can be mean. The internet is even meaner. Dealing with trolls while going through puberty is a lot for anyone.
- The High School Factor: After Modern Family wrapped, she actually went to a regular high school.
- The Band Era: She played in a high school band, which is where she really learned to write music.
- Theater Kid Roots: She found her way back to acting through her school's theater program.
It’s kind of refreshing. She took a step back, did the "normal" thing for a few years, and found out she actually liked the craft of performing when the cameras weren't constantly rolling.
Why the Name Change Actually Matters
The name change to Frances Anderson is a strategic move, but it’s also a personal one. She has a long, hyphenated last name that she’s joked is a bit of a mouthful. But more than that, it’s about branding. In the entertainment industry, being "Aubrey from Modern Family" is a double-edged sword. It gets you in the door, but it makes it really hard for people to take your indie-folk album seriously.
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She’s moved into a new place in Los Angeles and is basically treating 2026 as a fresh start. Her "Modern Family" dads, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, are still very much in the picture. Jesse, in particular, is a constant cheerleader on her social media. He’s the "proud pretend papa" who shows up to her school plays and comments on her singing clips. That bond seems very real, which is rare for child actors and their on-screen parents.
What’s Next for Aubrey (Frances)?
So, what should you actually expect from her in the coming year?
She’s currently auditioning again, but she’s being picky. There’s also talk of her moving toward Broadway—a huge dream of hers. She recently participated in an Off-Broadway reading for a play called Haters Gonna Hate, which is an adaptation of Molière's The Misanthrope. It’s a far cry from sitcom comedy, but it shows she’s got the range for the stage.
If you’re a fan, keep an eye on her YouTube channel, "FoodMania Review," which she still runs with her mom. It’s a great way to see her actual personality—funny, a bit awkward, and totally different from the "Lily" persona.
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Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check out the EP: If you want to support her new direction, listen to Drown on Spotify or Apple Music under the name Frances Anderson.
- Follow the New Era: Her social media is the best place to catch her acoustic covers and life updates. She’s very active on TikTok and Instagram, usually posting under her original name but promoting her music as Frances.
- Watch the Growth: If you’re rewatching Modern Family, look for the shift around Season 7. That’s when you can really see her starting to find her own comedic timing, which she’s now applying to her theater work.
The transition from child star to adult artist is never easy. Most people fail at it. But by stepping away, going to school, and rebranding on her own terms, the girl we knew as Lily is making sure she’s known for a lot more than just a few iconic one-liners.