Inside Ariana Grande's Relationship With Her Brother Frankie
It's hard not to be in awe of the incredibly tight bond shared between Ariana Grande and her older brother, Frankie Grande. The pint-sized pop star has been outspoken since the very beginning about how much of an impact her brother has had on her everyday life. Although the "No Tears Left to Cry" singer fulfilled her dreams and then some by becoming one of today's most successful musicians, her journey hasn't always been easy. In fact, Ariana has faced a lot of trauma and turmoil over her years in the public eye, including the 2017 bombing at her concert in Manchester, England, and the untimely death of ex-boyfriend Mac Miller the following year.
Considering all that she has gone through, Ariana has luckily had the support of her friends and family — including Frankie, who has always been her rock. Simultaneously, the multi-talent has had nothing but praise for his little sis, whom he has cherished in his life since the moment she was born. In June 2020, for example, Frankie shared a beautiful birthday tribute to Ariana on Instagram, writing in part, "I remember walking into the hospital with Nonna & Grandpa the day you were born and seeing you for the first time ... I knew then and there that I would do anything for you for the rest of our lives, and have stood by your side as you have stood by mine ever since."
Could this sibling relationship be any more precious? Keep reading to learn more about Ariana Grande's unbreakable bond with her brother, Frankie.
Ariana and Frankie Grande are half-siblings
Fans of Ariana Grande were already most likely aware that Frankie Grande is her brother. Yet only her super fans might be in on the fact that they are half-siblings due to the fact that they don't share the same father. Per The U.S. Sun, the duo's mother, Joan Grande, was initially married to a doctor named Victor Marchione, who is Frankie's biological dad. After their divorce, she married Edward Butera, aka Ariana's biological father. They, too, eventually divorced in 2003.
Of course, being half-siblings who have a 10-year age difference doesn't make Frankie and Ariana any less close than if they shared both of the same parents. In fact, it might be argued that these two are even closer than some siblings who are 100% related by blood. As the former "Big Brother" contestant continued to gush about Ariana in the previously mentioned birthday Instagram post, "I will forever be eternally grateful to you for being the greatest sister on the planet and forever strive to be the greatest big brother in return." (BRB while we grab a tissue to dab our eyes with...)
How Broadway musicals bonded the two
Because of Ariana Grande and Frankie Grande's 10-year age difference, it wasn't always easy to connect during their younger years. But as they developed their close relationship, the siblings were able to figure out shared interests that connected them like nothing else. For example, they are both madly in love with Broadway musicals. "We always, always bonded over that," Frankie explained on the "Confess Your Mess" podcast in January 2022. Name-dropping the likes of "Little Shop of Horrors," "Wicked," and "Avenue Q," he added, "There were so many musicals that we just blasted when she was 10."
Frankie also noted that both he and Ariana have professional experience performing on The Great White Way. The "7 Rings" pop star notably got her start in 2007 while performing in "13: The Musical" alongside her future "Victorious" co-star, Elizabeth Gillies. Meanwhile, Frankie was both acting in and producing shows at the time. "It's just kind of in our fabric," he added.
During a joint YouTube video titled "Ariana and Frankie Grande — Christmas Q&A!" from 2014, Frankie and Ariana discussed their dream roles for Broadway. According to Ari, the ultimate fantasy would be for her to play Mimi in "Rent," while Frankie takes on the role of Mark. The two took their adoration for Jonathan Larson's work a step further when they performed "Seasons of Love" together on Frankie's YouTube channel in 2018. Now, if that ain't sibling goals...
The Grandes are utterly obsessed with Harry Potter
Ariana Grande has long been a fan of the "Harry Potter" series, a factoid that most Ari stans know. (According to Seventeen, one of the first songs she had ever written was a love ballad to Slytherin bad boy aka Tom Felton — OMG.) But the "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" singer is not the only Potterhead in the Grande family.
When Frankie Grande gave his fans a room tour on his official YouTube channel, he revealed his very Harry childhood bedroom. Not only does he have a framed Harry Potter poster that includes signed autographs from the whole movie cast, but his entire bedroom walls were decorated in a Potter theme that mimics the night sky inside the Hogwarts Great Hall.
Frankie wasn't the only one to decorate his room with Potter merchandise. Ariana confessed on Twitter (via Seventeen) that she used to have Draco Malfoy pillowcases when she was little. Now that's true dedication right there. And it makes perfect sense: As the Daily Mail has pointed out, Ariana is a proud Slytherin.
Frankie Grande's personal struggles impacted their bond
While Frankie Grande has been a huge part of Ariana Grande's life since the moment she was born, there was a point in time when their bond was tested due to Frankie's personal struggles. According to the Broadway actor, following his time on the reality show "Big Brother," he was subjected to a lot of hate from viewers. The reality TV alum told Yahoo! Entertainment that the social media attacks tore him apart. "So, I started going down this hole of pills and alcohol," he recalled.
On an episode of "Confess Your Mess," Frankie opened up about how this impacted his connection to his loved ones. "I chose to spend more time drinking and drugging and partying than having relationships with my family," he said. "It wasn't ever like, 'screw you, I'm not talking to you anymore.' It was just kind of like I started to disappear."
Following the attack on Ariana's concert at Manchester Arena in 2017, Frankie asked for help. "That was a time when my family needed me most, and it was the time when I was the most checked-out," he said to Yahoo! Entertainment. He has been sober ever since. On a June 2022 episode of "Good Day New York," he shared he was celebrating five years of sobriety.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Frankie Grande was 'nervous' to come out to his sister
Frankie Grande and Ariana Grande are siblings, yes, but they are also the best of friends — and they've said so on Instagram countless times. Even so, Frankie was still apprehensive about opening up to his younger sibling about his sexuality.
When Frankie was ready to come out to his little sister when she was eleven years old, he was worried about how she would react. He quickly learned that the future pop star was utterly unfazed. "I remember being so nervous to tell my little sister," he told Gay Times of the experience. "I was like, 'I have something to tell you... I'm gay', and she was like, 'Cool, do you have a boyfriend?' and I was like, 'Yeah', she was like, 'Great, when do I get to meet him?'" In a separate interview with Attitude, Frankie said of his sister, "She was raised in a family where gay was not only accepted, it was celebrated."
They're happy to see each other happy in love
Frankie Grande and Ariana Grande were lucky enough to find love and get married to their respective partners roughly around the same time. While Ariana tied the knot in 2021 with real estate pro Dalton Gomez, Frankie connected with Hale Leon, whom he married in 2022. Both of the Grandes were incredibly supportive of each other's respective relationships, with each one going out of their way to gush about their siblings' S.O. Following the "Break Free" crooner's summer wedding, Frankie couldn't help but spill about how magical and perfect the night was. In a video for J-14 Magazine, he shared that the celebration was so "authentic" to both Ariana and Gomez's personalities, so it was hard not to enjoy the night.
Meanwhile, when Frankie took to Instagram to share with the world that he was engaged to Leon, Ariana could not stop gushing about her adoration for their relationship. She shared on her Instagram Story (via People), "I love you both so much. Congratulations to two of the most incredible men I know."
The Grande siblings lived in Francis Ford Coppola's house
Being that she's one of the most famous celebrities on the face of the planet, Ariana Grande has lived in some of the most lavish and luxurious homes throughout her stardom. But before the fame, back when she was only somewhat well-known for her role as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon's "Victorious," she was living with her brother Frankie in a home that was once owned by a Tinseltown legend.
As Ariana revealed in a 2010 "Cambio Goes Home" house tour, the gorgeous abode used to belong to director Francis Ford Coppola. What's more, she divulged that "The Godfather" was screened for the first time at the house.
Given that Ariana and Frankie are huge movie buffs, the home's Hollywood history certainly spoke to them. In a video that the siblings uploaded to YouTube in 2014 titled "Ariana & Frankie Grande – Christmas Q&A," Frankie and Ari got into their appreciation for good movies. According to the Grandes, whenever they introduce a film to their friends who are watching it for the first time, they ask that their guests refrain from talking or scrolling through their phones.
The busy siblings always find time for each other
Despite their busy schedules, Frankie Grande and Ariana Grande are basically in constant communication. Considering how demanding both of their respective jobs are, it seems as though they'd never have time to have daily heart-to-hearts. But because these two are attached at the hip, they manage to find a way. As Frankie told Us Weekly at the Teen Choice Awards in 2019, "We're talking 24/7. I was talking to her on my way in and I'll probably talk to her as soon as I pick my phone back up. You know, we're very, very close." He also shared that the two have a daily FaceTime chat.
And when they get to hang out IRL? It sounds like it is just about what you'd expect from the two talented show biz stars. As Frankie told Attitude in 2016, "[W]e're running around the house screaming musicals, constantly singing songs from 'Rent' and 'Wicked.' There's always a performance going on in our house.
The Grandes can't get enough of America's Next Top Model
Ariana Grande and Frankie Grande are massive "America's Next Top Model" fans. When the long-running reality show was still on the air, the siblings regularly watched the Tyra Banks-hosted competition. In a 2015 chat with ET, Frankie confessed that their love of "America's Next Top Model" even influenced their mom, Joan Grande, to make a big style change. "I was like, Mommy, you need a Ty Ty chop," he said, referring to Banks' pixie cut. "And then we gave her Tyra's haircut."
Considering Ariana's obsession with the TV show, it probably isn't a reach to assume she was beyond ecstatic to tweet with Banks about a hypothetical "ANTM" makeover (via Refinery29). As fans of the series know, at the top of each season, Banks comes up with a makeover plan for each contestant (usually, it involves a drastic new hairstyle). So, what did the Queen of Smize have in mind for Ari?
Banks' only major note for the pop star was to keep her signature hairstyle intact. "You betta not touch that tail," she advised.
Ariana and Frankie Grande are each other's biggest fans
Frankie Grande and Ariana Grande are seriously each other's number one fans. While some siblings unfortunately deal with sibling rivalry drama, Frankie has always been nothing but overwhelmingly supportive of his sister's mega-stardom.
What's more, Frankie spilled to "Confess Your Mess" that Ariana always lets her brother know that she adores his talent as an artist. And although Ariana is obviously the more well-known of the two siblings, the singer still insists that she looks up to her older brother for inspiration. "On Thanksgiving she just sent me a text that was like, 'I love when you sing,'" Frankie shared. "It's just stuff like that that makes me so happy."
Furthermore, Ariana has been incredibly supportive of Frankie while he was a contestant on the popular reality show "Celebrity Big Brother." While he was in the house, Ariana sent him the sweetest video, letting her brother know she was rooting for him. "I'm proud of you for being yourself," she told Frankie (via Billboard). "I miss you so much and I can't wait to see you." Well, if these two aren't the most adorable siblings on the planet.
Frankie Grande loves being the superstar's brother
It's perfectly natural for siblings to have a competitive streak. Yet for Frankie Grande and Ariana Grande, all they have for each other is love. No matter what, they are on each other's team. And even though Frankie has also been on the show business grind for a long time, there is no ill-will or resentment over the fact that his sister is the bigger star of the two. Instead of letting jealousy reign over him, he chooses to instead be the pop star's number one supporter.
"She's my sister, she's my best friend on the planet, I'm so proud of her, I helped raise her," Frankie said on "Sway's Universe." "Like imagine being so involved in someone's life and then seeing them do what they want to do, follow their dreams, succeed in all of her dreams and just see her completely slay at everything she does." He went on to add, "You can call me Ariana Grande's brother until the end of time."
In fact, Frankie is such an Ariana stan that he can't pick a favorite Ariana song. "They're all my favorite," he told Us Weekly. "Every single one. Everything she's ever said. Even if she ad-libs a riff, that's my favorite song." A relatable response, indeed.