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Why Jesse Tyler Ferguson is "So Proud" of Frances Anderson After She Stepped Away From Acting
Jesse Tyler Ferguson still feels that fatherly love.
While his and Frances Anderson's days of playing father and daughter on Modern Family are long behind them, Jesse continues to watch on proudly as Frances—who stepped away from acting at the end of the sitcom—moves into her next chapter as a musical artist.
"I'm so proud of her, she's really come into her own," he told E! News at the 2026 Tony Awards on June 7. "She loves musical theater, actually. That's what we bonded over when you know, even when she was like four or five years old. So the fact that she's still interested in singing is so—I feel like I feel like a dad of hers, and I'm very proud of her."
But Frances—who, now 19, changed her name from Aubrey Anderson-Emmons in August to represent her new musical chapter—isn't the only one of Jesse's costars who could hold their own on a stage.
In fact, Jesse said he'd be happy to share the spotlight with Sarah Hyland—who has also appeared on Broadway—in a heartbeat.
"I would feel the safest on stage with her," Jesse—who attended the Tonys with husband Justin Mitka—said. "Because she's a pro."
"I would be interested in doing something with Eric Stonestreet," the 50-year-old continued of his former onscreen husband. "But I don't know how safe I'd feel with him."
As for why, Jesse explained, "He'd be a lot of nerves. I know Eric pretty well, he'd be very, very nervous, but he would be amazing on stage."
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Plus, he's got some budding musical theater fans at home, with his and Justin's sons Beckett, 5, and Sullivan, 3, already being exposed to dad's work.
"They have seen me on stage," Jesse—who is participating in a Chicago tribute performance during the Tonys—said. "And I took them to see the revival of Spelling Bee, and they loved it."
And though Beckett and Sullivan are too young to attend the Tonys with their dads, they're still enjoying a fun evening.
"They're actually at the Queens Pride celebration with our niece," Jesse revealed. "So. they're celebrating in their own way today."
As for dad's Chicago tribute, he added, "I'll show them on YouTube."
For more from the Tony red carpet, read on.
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Pink
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Pink, Jameson Hart, Judith Moore, Willow Hart and Carey Hart
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Sarah Paulson
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Luke Evans
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Billy Crystal
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Alex Newell
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Lea Michele
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Mark Ballas and BC Jean
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Bess Wohl
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June Squibb
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Melissa Barrera
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Bronwyn Newport and Christian Siriano
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Darren Criss
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Jeremy Pope
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Tituss Burgess
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Jim Parsons
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Justin Mikita and Jesse Tyler Ferguson
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Frankie Grande
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Jordan Fisher
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Scott Hoying and Mark Hoying
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Usher and Jennifer Goicoechea Raymond
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Rosie O'Donnell
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Stacy London and Clinton Kelly
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Sam Pinkleton
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Zhailon Levingston
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Ella Stiller
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Betsy Wolfe
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