- Music
- 17 Jul 25
Beloved pop star Connie Francis dies at 87
The 'Pretty Little Baby' singer was named one of the greatest female recording artists of all time.
Connie Francis, pop singer and actress who dominated charts in the 1950s and 60s, has died at the age of 87.
Her death was announced by Rob Roberts, her manager and president of Concetta Records – the label which bears her name. Roberts did not immediately provide any further details.
"It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night," Roberts wrote on Facebook.
"I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news."
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in 1937, Francis was a legend of the pre-Beatles era, with a plethora of chart-toppers and illustrious awards and honours.
Her breakthrough came when Dick Clark played her version of 'Who's Sorry Now?' on American Bandstand in 1958. In the following years, Francis released a handful of popular teen hits including 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool', 'Stupid Cupid' and 'My Happiness'.
'Everybody's Somebody's Fool' hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960, making Francis the first woman to top the chart. The same year, Francis was named the most successful female recording artist in the UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia.
Throughout the 50s and 60s, she dipped into film, starring in titles like Where The Boys Are and Follow The Boys.
After the success of her 1959 album Connie Francis sings Italian Favorites, Francis released a series of "Connie Francis sings" records to appeal to different immigrant communities in America.
In 1962, she came out with Connie Francis sings Irish Favorites, recorded at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. The album contained 12 tracks, mostly written by Irish-Americans.
Her success continued through the 60s with many more successful tracks, many of which she sang in Italian or German.
During her 1974 performances at the Westbury Music Fair in New York, Francis survived a horrific sexual assault at a motel. She sued the motel chain for inadequate security and won a $2.5 million (€2.2 million) judgment, one of the largest judgments in history. As a result, reform in hotel security proliferated throughout America.
She subsequently developed post-traumatic stress disorder and withdrew from the public eye in the late 1970s and early 80s.
Francis released a few more tracks throughout the late 80s and early 90s and performed through the early 2000s, including headline shows in Las Vegas. In 2018, she retired to Florida.
In April and May 2025, her 1962 song 'Pretty Little Baby' went wildly viral on TikTok. It reached over 10 billion views and sat at number one on Tiktok's Top 50 and Viral 50 charts for weeks.
Speaking to PEOPLE in May, Francis said she had forgotten about the track but was glad to hear people still listened to her music.
"To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is touching the hearts of millions of people is truly awesome," Francis said.
"I never thought it was possible. It's a dream come true. To think that kindergarten kids now know my name and my music? It’s just thrilling!"
Francis said she hoped to go see the Broadway musical Just in Time, which based on the life of Francis' former partner Bobby Darin. Johnathan Groff stars as Darin with Gracie Lawrence as Francis.
"After I go to therapy and I'm able to walk, I'll go to see it," Francis said.
Just in Time posted a tribute to Francis on Instagram, captioned, "Her legacy lives on through her music and in the hearts of the generations she inspired."
View this post on Instagram
She is survived by her friends and her adopted son, Joseph Garzilli Jr.
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