Frankie Grande Tells His Sister Ariana How He Found His Shine Again

Frankie Grande has been through a lot: online rumor mills, a stint in the Big Brother house, and struggles with addiction. Now, at 42 years old, the former theater kid is taking those experiences and pouring them into Hotel Rock Bottom, a pop debut that provides a painful-yet-playful look at his past and has his sister Ariana bursting into tears–and song.

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THURSDAY 2 PM APRIL 24, 2025 L.A.

ARIANA GRANDE: Hi. I just FaceTimed Frankie; he was putting on some mascara and then he’ll be here.

SPEAKER 3: Oh, perfect. [Laughs] I was just texting him.

FRANKIE GRANDE: Good morning!

ARIANA: Oh, my goodness. How are you?

FRANKIE: I’m good. I really wanted this gayness here.

ARIANA: The Pride flag—is there any other background?

FRANKIE: My gayness on full display.

ARIANA: Spelled G-A-N-U-S.

FRANKIE: Exactly. [Laughs]

ARIANA: You look beautiful, Frankie.

FRANKIE: Thank you. You look beautiful, my sister.

ARIANA: Can I please just get my monologue out of the way and then I promise I’ll jump right into the questions?

FRANKIE: Okay.

ARIANA: I just want to say how grateful I am to be doing this. I’ve looked up to you since I was born and I’m so proud of you. I tell you all the time in real life, but I wanted to tell you here, in Interview magazine. You’ve given us so many of your incredible gifts over the years, onstage and with the joy you’ve brought to us through reality TV. But this album is something I don’t think any of us knew that we needed from you, and I’m so grateful for it. It feels like the next level of truth, and it’s the most Frankie thing you’ve ever done.

FRANKIE: God. You’re the best sister in the entire world, and I can’t thank you enough. It’s just been such a beautiful–

ARIANA: This is about you!

FRANKIE: Okay.

ARIANA: [Laughs]

FRANKIE: It’s very strange that it’s about me. Even when I was at the L.A. Kings game and I was walking with an entourage to go sing, I was like, “Where’s my sister?” It’s strange that the roles have reversed at this moment. I remember when you looked up to me like that, and then it flipped, and now I’m following in your footsteps.

ARIANA: It’s your turn. I feel like the world needs this album right now.

FRANKIE: I do, too.

ARIANA: Loud, proud, and gay. Full of truth and healing and love and light. It really is a gift, so please walk me through why now.

FRANKIE: You hit the nail on the head. This music is for the community. I was thinking about how, when I was a little kid, Madonna helped me have my queer discovery. Right now, people are scared to be themselves because of the current administration, so unapologetically embracing my homosexuality is important. Also, I’m seven and a half years sober, and this album would never have been made at two years sober, at four years sober, or, god forbid, while I was drinking and using. It would’ve been a disaster. So now is exactly the right moment in so many ways.

ARIANA: I’m crying already.

FRANKIE: [Laughs] I know this is going to be so hard for us.

ARIANA: It’s too much.

FRANKIE: It’s a lot.

ARIANA: Laughs I knew I would be in my feelings, but this is otherworldly.

FRANKIE: I’m crying already, too.

ARIANA: You’ve always been very unapologetically yourself. You’ve been a theatrical, rainbow-bright, larger-than-life presence. I love the places where that is present on this album, but it also feels so disarmingly vulnerable at certain points in a way that people might not be expecting from you. So I’d like to know why that juxtaposition was so important to showcase?

FRANKIE: You’re right that there is so much soul and heart in the album, and that’s what’s going to shock the world. It’s also why “Hotel Rock Bottom” is the title track, because it’s about heart and soul. Again, so much of this journey has to do with my sobriety, and the way that I stay sober is to reflect on the moments in my life that were the darkest. People want to forget the past, but by constantly reminding ourselves of where we’ve been, we get to lead a brighter life. Sobriety has reconnected me with my family. It’s reconnected me with my art. It’s allowed me to express myself in a way that I haven’t been able to in years. Now I sit down to write music, and these deep stories come pouring out of me.

ARIANA: What I love so much about the title Hotel Rock Bottom is the way you treat that place as a gift that was given to you. Most people would be nervous to sign off on a title like that because of the negative connotations. But the way that you were able to choose a way out of that and walk a different path is so empowering and so beautiful. I’m grateful for that, too.

FRANKIE: Me too.

ARIANA: You remember when someone was like, “It might not be gay enough.” And I was like, “It has the word ‘bottom’ in it.”

FRANKIE: [Laughs] That was the best line ever. You were like, “That’s pretty Pride-related.”

ARIANA: Yeah, I think that’s gay enough. [Laughs] Tell us about your musical inspirations. I know them because I grew up hearing your music through the wall, but for the people reading, who are the artists that raised you?

FRANKIE: David Bowie. Absolutely. Remember the first time we saw Labyrinth together?

ARIANA: He in that movie is you and Mommy at the same time.

FRANKIE: Exactly.

ARIANA: And I’m the little bubble that he holds.

FRANKIE: You are the bubble! [Sings] “As the world falls down!” And then, of course, George Michael. Obviously Michael Jackson—”Remember the Time.” Are you kidding me? Then there were all of the female inspirations that I was listening to with Mommy—Madonna, Whitney [Houston], Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand. They’re all very theatrical performers. None of that was simple pop.

ARIANA: I was going to ask, what do you think you’ve taken from musical theater into your pop show?

FRANKIE: When I set out to make this album, I didn’t want to deviate too far from what the world knows me as. I wanted to make sure that I accessed that character-y, silly part of me and put it into the music.

ARIANA: It’s not silly.

FRANKIE: Not silly, but the nudge, nudge, wink, wink moments on the album where it’s like, “We’re going there.” When I was in the studio, I dropped into a character. On “Messy,” I was like, “Who was that girl who moved to New York at 21 and went to the club and didn’t know anybody and just drank a lot? Who was that ferocia, that demon?” There are so many characters on the album that are just me during different parts of my life.

ARIANA: That’s really loving of your past self, and it’s a self-preserving way to tell those parts of your story.

FRANKIE: Yeah, and no judgment. I love all those parts of who I am because it’s led me to where I am today.

ARIANA: I was like, “Oh, my goodness. Literally every single piece of Frankie is present on this album.” That’s just such a gorgeous thing to have in a debut.

FRANKIE: Thank you.

ARIANA: May I ask, what was the first song you wrote for the album and what inspired it?

FRANKIE: The first song I wrote was “I Don’t Remember It.”

ARIANA: I remember that.

FRANKIE: I know you do, because it started all of this.

ARIANA: I sobbed.

FRANKIE: We were celebrating something at my apartment. It was me, you, Dominic [Crossey, Grande’s friend], and three other people. As we do, we have parties with four people. [Laughs]

ARIANA: With our best friends. That’s all we need, ever.

FRANKIE: Then Dominic looked at me and said, “Did you play your sister your new song?” And I was like, “No. Shut up, Dom.”

ARIANA: I was like, “What the hell did you just say?” And he was like, “Oh, never mind.” You finally played it for me a week later and I sobbed. I remember thinking two things: “Oh, he needed to do this.” And also, “So many people need him to do this.”

FRANKIE: That moment really inspired me to move forward because I look up to you so much as an artist. You are, in my opinion, the greatest artist of our generation.

ARIANA: Frankie!

FRANKIE: I’m sorry. I have to say it. In that moment, your encouragement meant so much to me. It really inspired me to be like, “Cool. I’m doing this.”

ARIANA: Well, that means a lot to me. One of the many things that inspires me about you is your unapologetically self-celebratory nature and your ability to shine the way that you do, even when people have been unkind to you, or when they have projected their own internalized homophobia onto you. That’s one of the reasons why I’m so excited for you to be doing this, because music is so intimate and everyone needs a Frankie who makes them feel safe to be their most sparkly self. You’ve always been such an example of strength and empowerment in that way. Where does that come from?

FRANKIE: It’s really beautiful that you say that. That is exactly what the song “Glitter Jesus” is about.

ARIANA: I giggle at the title. [Laughs]

FRANKIE: I know, I was like, “I have to write ‘Glitter Jesus.’” I’m at a place in my life now where I can. After Big Brother, people would call me gay, faggot, tell me to die of AIDS on Twitter, and it broke me. It pushed me further into my addiction than I ever, ever wanted to go. But now, I don’t take those things personally. I know that there needs to be a figure that people can aim their hatred at, and I’m at a place in my life where I can take it. I can be a shield. I’m like, just throw your hatred at me so everyone else can continue to exist and suck and fuck in the club.

ARIANA: You should never have to be okay with that.

FRANKIE: I’m not okay with that, but I’m like, “I will reflect the light through it.”

ARIANA: It’s a beautiful thing to be a shield. It just takes so much strength. And I just want to acknowledge that because—sorry. I’m crying because you make it look easy and I know that it’s not.

FRANKIE: It’s not. And I’ve learned from you when to ask for help. You tell me all the time. You’re like, “Frankie, cut the sparkly bullshit. I know that there’s pain there, so just let’s talk about it.” And I have people now to reach out to: you, Jason, Mondo, my sober sisters. I’m like, “Listen, today’s actually a tough day.”

ARIANA: I know this will be the thousandth time I’ve said this in this interview, but I’m just so proud of you. Okay, we’re going to move on to different questions.

FRANKIE: What’s your favorite anus? Go.

ARIANA: My lashes have left the building. [Laughs] Fuck. Okay. I was going to ask, other than the ways in which it’s immortalized in the music, how has sobriety affected your relationship to music and performing?

FRANKIE: Just the experience of performing sober and being so connected with the material has been such a joy. I’ve spoken to many artists in meetings who are like, “I’m so scared to go out and do it sober. What if I don’t have that spark?” And I’m like, “I promise you it’s going to be even brighter.”

ARIANA: What are your tips for our newly sober pals out there who want to go to shows or festivals?

FRANKIE: Go out with a sober friend. I cannot tell you how my sober friends have saved my life through Coachella, through the bars of WeHo. And have an activity planned, because when you’re just going to bars aimlessly, it’s like, “Well, there really is nothing to do but drink or use, eventually.” So go to a drag show, go to a performance.

ARIANA: Support the queens!

FRANKIE: Please support your local queen. Have an activity, and then leave as soon as you’re like, “I’m done.” Because when people are drinking and using, they have no idea when you dipped.

ARIANA: They have no fucking clue. And save all of the money that you used to spend on booze and partying and give it to the drag queens.

FRANKIE: [Laughs] Exactly. They need it, honey. Those corsets are expensive.

ARIANA: What do you hope listeners feel most when they listen to this body of work?

FRANKIE: Wow, what a cool question. I want them to feel empowered to just exist. It’s the hardest thing to do sometimes—to not constantly self-regulate. I’m such a people pleaser that I’m like, “How do I change who I am just to fit this situation or this person?”

ARIANA: No.

FRANKIE: Exactly. So I hope when people listen to this music, they’re like, “Wow, this person is just being themselves. Maybe it’s cool if I am, too.”

ARIANA: That’s beautiful.

FRANKIE: Especially for my little queerdos out there. Please just be yourself. You’re so fucking great.

ARIANA: I feel like that is a perfect sentiment to end on, but unfortunately I have 35 more questions. [Laughs]

FRANKIE: I just saw that you have “Frankie’s sister” as your name in the corner of your screen, and it just broke me.

ARIANA: Aw. Frankie.

FRANKIE: I also have to tell everyone that 95 percent of the time people come up to me, they’re like, “Are you Ariana Grande’s sister?”

ARIANA: [Laughs] Can we please do unrelated rapid-fire questions?

FRANKIE: [Laughs] Okay. Can either you or I do this, or are we going to have three-hour responses?

ARIANA: I know that I can’t. But I’d love to see if you can. [Laughs]

FRANKIE: Okay. Big Brother challenge. Let’s go.

ARIANA: Favorite musical of all time?

FRANKIE: Probably Little Shop of Horrors.

ARIANA: Cute! What’s your dream Broadway role?

FRANKIE: Oh my goodness. Frank-N-Furter.

ARIANA: Work! Let’s put this out there right now. If there’s a Frank-N-Furter needed, it should be Frankie James Grande Marchione. What is the best advice Nonna has ever given you?

FRANKIE: “Fuck ’em!”

ARIANA: True. Can I tell the story about you coming out?

FRANKIE: Oh, my god. [Laughs] Please tell the whole thing.

ARIANA: So Frankie is in Boca Raton, Florida, and Nonna’s trying to figure out if he’s really gay or not. And this is how she decides to test. She says, “Frankie, have you ever seen a pair of breasts?” And he says—

FRANKIE: “Yeah, of course, Nonna, they’re beautiful.”

ARIANA: And she says, “Didn’t do anything for you?” And he says—

FRANKIE: “No. Uh-uh.”

ARIANA: And she says, “Well, you’re gay.” That’s how it was confirmed.

FRANKIE: [Laughs] Yes. Immediately followed by, “Well, I don’t want anyone—”

ARIANA: No, no, no, no!

FRANKIE: I gotta say it. [Laughs]

ARIANA: It’s fine. Go ahead.

FRANKIE: She goes, “Well, I don’t want anybody putting anything up your ass.” [Laughs] Our nonna is so epic.

ARIANA: [Laughs] Grandpa’s reaction was my favorite. He said, “Who cares? Are we going to love him any less? We’ve got reservations at Positano’s at 6 o’clock. We gotta go.”

FRANKIE: And that ended the conversation, which was, by the way, a conversation for months. With me in the room, everyone being like, “Do you think he’s gay?” And I’m like, “I’m literally sitting here with two dicks in my hands.”

ARIANA: I never said that. I said, “Do you have a boyfriend? I need to meet him right now.”

FRANKIE: You did. Unfazed.

ARIANA: Okay. What are your plans for Pride other than putting out an album?

FRANKIE: It’s going to be a lot of traveling. Pride is my power month, and obviously as a board member of GLAAD, I will take every opportunity to take the mic to talk about where we are as an LGBTQ+ community. I really want to continue to address the rift between the LGs and the Bs and the Ts. I just want to support my trans siblings and make the world know that if something happens to them, it’s happening to all of us. That’s my message for Pride.

ARIANA: Beautiful. And last but not least, what are some of the best ways that our non-gay friends, regular boring people, can advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community?

FRANKIE: Ask questions of your LGBTQ+ friends. And just if there’s something you don’t understand, it’s totally okay. And I would just encourage the community to be really kind and loving when you hear stupid questions, because the only way we’re going to come together is by being like, “Oh, cool, you don’t get it? That’s totally fine. But I’m so grateful that you asked and let me talk to you about it lovingly.”

ARIANA: That’s beautiful.

FRANKIE: Is this a four-part documentary now? [Laughs]

ARIANA: Yeah. Just give us 10 more pages and the cover.

FRANKIE: Amen. I love you.

ARIANA: Thank you, Frankie, for having me.

FRANKIE: This is the best day of my life. I’m FaceTiming you immediately.

ARIANA: See you right now. I love you.

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Hair: Antoine Martinez using Oribe at Paradis.

Makeup: Tammy Yi using REM Beauty at Tracey Mattingly.

Nails: Candace Kim using Manucurist.

Photography Assistant: Mason Ryder.

Fashion Assistant: Trent Vann.

Location: AGP West Studios.