Frankie Grande is Bringing the Drama—And the Disco
From Broadway’s spotlight to the recording studio’s mic check, Frankie Grande’s next act is loud, proud, and set to music.
By Ricky Anderson
Before Frankie Grande was headlining off-Broadway stages or crafting dance floor anthems, he was a pint-sized theater critic in a tuxedo, unimpressed by London’s Phantom of the Opera. “I was like, who the fuck is Michael Ball? Get the hook,” he says with a laugh. “Where is Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman?” That bold, unfiltered honesty—equal parts diva and charm—is exactly what makes Frankie Grande magnetic.
Now, he’s channelling that signature flair into a full-fledged pop career, with a debut album releasing June 27. It’s loud, it’s queer, and it’s very, very Frankie.
“I Was Just Born This Way”
Raised on a steady diet of Phantom and Madonna, Grande’s destiny was practically scripted. His mother took him to see Little Shop of Horrors at age eight and had him singing along at Phantom before he hit double digits. “I was in London, sitting next to this British couple who were mortified to be next to a child,” he recalls. “But I told them, ‘Don’t worry, my mom said I’m not allowed to sing during the show.’” He pauses, smirking, “They asked if I knew the music, and I said, ‘Oh yes, I’ve seen it ten times on Broadway.’”
Theatrical roots firmly planted, Frankie found his footing on stage early. In fifth grade, he booked the role of Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie, belting “Wind Beneath My Wings” like a baby Bette Midler. “I never looked back,” he says. “That was it.”
His academic pursuits—yes, he was a straight-A student—earned him the freedom to pursue theater with his mom’s full support. He triple-majored in biology, theater, and dance at Muhlenberg College, just in case Broadway didn’t call. Spoiler alert: it did. A little over a year after graduating, Frankie booked Mamma Mia! in 2006. Dreams: achieved.
Broadway Baby, Pop Star Soul
Even while performing on and off Broadway, Frankie was developing his voice—literally. He starred in a one-man show, Living La Vida Grande, and collaborated with writers like Jeremy Schoenfeld and Katie Thompson to pen original songs. “I always knew there was me singing my own music inside of my body,” he says.
But it took two major turning points to bring that voice out: sobriety and activism. “I’m eight years sober now,” he shares. “And I’m on the Board of GLAAD, whose whole mission is representation for LGBTQ+ people in media. Both things happened at the same time. And I was like, fuck—why aren’t you recording music?”
For the Gays, By the Gays
Frankie’s music isn’t just about bangers and belting—though he delivers both. It’s about creating space. “I wrote a song imagining Heartstopper season two, in my head. These two boys are at prom, and they’re dancing. I thought, ‘Why are they dancing to Carly Rae Jepsen? They should be dancing to a gay man.’” So, Frankie wrote that song.
That track became the spark for a whole album. Republic Records’ Wendy Goldstein signed him, paired him with producers, and now, a full album is on its way. “It just poured out of me,” he says.
“You know, I think our community is under attack right now, and I feel like my message is that during times of heartache, strife, and celebration, I’ve always run to the dance floor.”
Influences: Icons Only
When asked about his musical inspirations, Frankie doesn’t hesitate. “David Bowie. I wanted to be the Goblin King from Labyrinth. Michael Jackson—I watched Moonwalker daily. George Michael. Elton John.” And, of course, “my divas—Madonna, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Cher.”
It’s a Mount Rushmore of queer music icons, all baked into Frankie’s DNA. “I had a great education as a child in the eighties,” he jokes.
What’s Next?
The album drops June 27, but Frankie’s not stopping there. He’s blending everything—Broadway, pop, activism—into a career that’s impossible to pigeonhole and impossible to ignore. “My goal was really to provide a safe place for everyone to exist musically in 2025, and to inspire people in these pockets of the country that are really fucking homophobic and transphobic right now — to give them the strength to be themselves, to be safe, and maybe to get the fuck out.”
Mission accomplished, Frankie.