Connie Francis, one of the brightest stars of the late ’50s and early ’60s, has died at age 87.
Her death was confirmed by her long-time friend and president of her record label, Ron Roberts, who initially announced Connie's death on Facebook overnight.
In the post, he said, “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 further explained to BBC News that, leading up to her death, she was in hospital being treated for pelvic pain. During this time, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and then ultimately died on Wednesday night.
Known for her crystal-clear voice and heartfelt delivery, she gave us hits like 'Who’s Sorry Now?', 'Stupid Cupid', 'My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own', and more recently found fame again with her hit song ‘Pretty Little Baby’.
Her songs were often simple, but they carried a real emotional punch.
Born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, she had a slow start in the industry. But things changed dramatically in 1958 when 'Who’s Sorry Now?' hit big after Dick Clark played it on his TV show ‘American Bandstand’.
It launched her into stardom almost overnight.
But Connie’s story was never just about fame. She battled through deep personal trauma, including a violent assault in the 1970s, multiple mental health struggles, and the loss of her brother.
Despite it all, she remained strong and open about her pain. She became a vocal advocate for mental health and victims’ rights. Her strength off-stage was just as powerful as her voice on it.
And then, incredibly, she had one last unexpected moment in the spotlight.
Within the last year, her 1962 track 'Pretty Little Baby' suddenly went viral on TikTok, allowing a new generation to discover her music through pet videos, lip-syncing reels, and slow dances.
Streams jumped from 17,000 a week to over 2 million, and the song's audio has been used in over one million TikTok videos.
Connie joined TikTok herself and said she was “flabbergasted and excited.”
She even joined in on the trend, posting herself with a pet dog and lip-syncing to the sound, which she said was the “first time I’ve lip-synched to this 63-year-old recording of mine.”
It was a beautiful surprise. After decades away from the charts, her voice found its way back, reminding all of us just how timeless her music really was.
Connie Francis sold over 100 million records, recorded in multiple languages, and lit up screens in films like 'Where the Boys Are'. But more than any stat, she gave generations of listeners songs that stuck with us.
She once said she hoped to be remembered "not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths from which I have come.”
Rest easy, Connie. You gave us songs for the ages, and one more encore we’ll never forget.
