Frankie Grande has no qualms about touting 2026 as a “Frankie-sance,” and it’s hard to argue with that assessment. In the past year, the “Henry Danger” star and former “Big Brother” contestant dropped a debut solo album, “Hotel Rock Bottom,” and began performances in a buzzy Broadway musical, “Titaníque.” Now, he’s showcasing his reflective side in a delightfully unfiltered memoir, “Supergay!”
Memoir Release and Political Motivation
Released June 23, “Supergay!” charts the highs and lows of the actor, singer and reality TV personality’s life, including his experiences with drug and alcohol addiction, his path to self-acceptance as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and his “wonderfully reciprocal” relationship with his sister, pop icon Ariana Grande. Despite the book’s arrival at a prolific moment in his career, Frankie Grande insists its timing was motivated by “where we are as a nation.”
“We talked about pushing it to next year [but] I needed this book to come out now, because our community is under such heavy attack, and there are people in this country who feel like they are subhuman because of this administration,” he told HuffPost. “I want Trump to be furious that this book exists. I want it banned in red states.”
Structure and Personal Reflection
As implied by its cheeky title, “Supergay!” is structured as a series of essays in which Grande assumes the role of a superhero whose hidden powers emerge in response to moments of trauma and personal strife. True to form, his anecdotes are peppered with sassy one-liners and winks at queer culture. While delving into the darker moments of his past was challenging, he looked to lessons he’d picked up in his 12-step program as he wrote.
“We have Step 4, where we have to write down all of the resentments and fears we have from our past, and we have to confront them head-on,” he said. “Most people are scared of this step, but I learned from my sponsor not to fear it, because you’ve lived through it ― you know you’ve survived.” He went on to note: “I love the fact that I’m a gay alcoholic and an addict, because that means I’ve cracked at least half the puzzle, maybe even more. I have greater control over my life because I’ve embraced those titles, and I don’t think they’re anything to fear.”
Broadway Return with 'Titaníque'
Grande also emphasizes how crucial his sobriety is to his current theatrical success. This spring, he returned to Broadway — after a 12-year absence — in “Titaníque,” a musical comedy spoof of James Cameron’s “Titanic” featuring the hit songs of Celine Dion. As the ship’s captain ― named “Victor Garber” after the actor from Cameron’s film ― he performs a high-energy, dance-pop rendition of “I Drove All Night.” In May, he released his version of the song as a single, accompanied by a steamy, nautical-themed music video.
Having been with “Titaníque” over the course of its eight-year, pre-Broadway development, Grande admits he was disappointed the musical didn’t win any of the four Tony Awards for which it was nominated. Still, he believes the show’s deliberately campy blend of full-throttle singing and satire represents “the future of Broadway,” and he views his experience with the show as a professional highlight: “We have the greatest cast in the world, and when we’re not together, it’s sad. I just want to go to work and have a good time, and that’s what I do.”
Bond with Sister Ariana Grande
He’s also found creative inspiration in being a firsthand witness to Ariana Grande’s global success in film and music. He recently attended one of his sister’s Eternal Sunshine Tour performances in Los Angeles and deemed it “the greatest concert I’ve ever seen.” “I started as her mentor ... and she now is mentoring me,” he explained. “She wanted to follow in my footsteps when she was young, and now I get to ask her about record label stuff [and] vocal health. I have so much pride for her. There was never any room for rivalry. It would be so silly and feel so weird.”
Future Aspirations and EGOT Dreams
With “Titaníque” slated to run through September, Frankie Grande is thinking ahead. In his book’s epilogue, he shares his desire to become an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) winner, and cites Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” as a dream musical role. An opportunity to play a principal character on a Netflix series or in a future “Lord of the Rings” iteration is also high on his bucket list.
“I never know what the universe has in store for me, but I know that my dedication to being of service to my communities ― the sober community and the LGBTQ+ community ― will always be at the forefront of my existence,” he said. “As long as I know that my goal in life is to be of service, it doesn’t matter what’s next.”
