Thursday, July 17, 2025 - Legendary country, rock and pop singer Connie Francis, known for her hit Pretty Little Baby, has di£d at the age of 87.
The death of the US singing icon – born Concetta Rosa Maria
Franconero – was confirmed on social media by her friend and
copyright manager Ron Roberts.
"It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I
inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night," he
wrote on Facebook.
"I know that Connie would approve that her fans are
among the first to learn of this sad news."
Last month Francis, who was one of the most successful
female singers in the 1950s and 60s, cancelled an appearance on Cousin Brucie’s
Independence Day radio show after she was hospitalised and transferred to
intensive care due to "extreme pain".
On July 2, Francis wrote on Facebook: "As many of you may now have learned
through Cousin Brucie’s Facebook page, I am back in hospital where I have been
undergoing tests and checks to determine the cause(s) of the extreme pain I
have been experiencing.
"I had hoped to take part in Brucie’s show for
Independence Day, having had to cancel a previous slot a few weeks ago when
receiving treatment on my hip. Sadly, I had to let him know that I again had to
withdraw.
"My thanks for your many get well soon messages. I will
endeavor to keep you updated."
Hours later, Francis updated fans that she had been
transferred from intensive care into a "private room" following a
series of tests.
Two days later, Francis said she was feeling "much
better" as she wished fans a happy July 4th.
In June Francis said she was suffering from "pelvic
pain" due to a fracture, which left her using a wheelchair.
Francis’ de@th comes after her 1962 track Pretty Little Baby
went viral on TikTok, with influencers including the Kardashians lip-syncing
the lyrics, accumulating over 15 million creates on the platform.
Within one week in May, Pretty Little Baby, which was
released on Francis’ 1962 album Connie Francis Sings Second Hand Love &
Other Hits, was streamed over 14million times.
Francis – who was the first woman to top the Billboard Hot
100 with My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own – said she was "thrilled and
overwhelmed" at the success of Pretty Little Baby, which wasn’t a big hit
on its release when she was 23.
"I recorded that song 63 years ago and to know that an
entire new generation now knows who I am and my music is thrilling for me.
Thank you so much everybody, thank you TikTok," she said.
Alongside her hits, which also included My Happiness, Where
the Boys Are, Who’s Sorry Now, Stupid Cupid, and Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,
Francis starred in a number of popular films including Looking for Love in 1964
and When the Boys Meet the Girls in 1965.
In a 2024 interview, Connie reflected on her sudden
rise to fame.
"In December of 1957, I was typing and taking shorthand
and doing filing in my Aunt Louisa’s insurance firm and in 1960 I was voted the
world’s Number One Female Vocalist," she said.
She was one of the first artists to translate her hits into
foreign language versions, which gave her music huge international appeal in
countries including Japan, Germany and Italy. In the early 1960s, Francis was
selling more records internationally than in the US.
Fans have taken to social media with tributes to
Francis.
"RIP Connie, thank you for all your beautiful songs and
movies," said Raye Leslie.
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