American singer, Connie Francis dies at 87

Legendary American singer Connie Francis, famous for timeless hits like Pretty Little Baby and Stupid Cupid, has died at the age of 87.

Her death was confirmed by close friend and copyright manager Ron Roberts, who shared the news on Facebook.

“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.

Francis, born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, was one of the most successful female artists of the 1950s and 1960s. She recently made headlines after her 1962 hit Pretty Little Baby went viral on TikTok, racking up over 15 million lip-sync videos and 14 million streams in one week.

Just last month, the singer was hospitalized with severe pain and admitted to intensive care, forcing her to cancel an appearance on Cousin Brucie’s Independence Day radio show. On July 2, Francis shared updates on Facebook, thanking fans for their prayers and saying she hoped to return soon. Sadly, she never recovered.

In June, Francis revealed she had been battling pelvic pain from a fracture and was confined to a wheelchair.

The viral resurgence of Pretty Little Baby had thrilled her before her death. Speaking in May, she said:

“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.”

Francis made history as the first woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own. Her other hits include Who’s Sorry Now, Where the Boys Are, and Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.

She also appeared in movies like Looking for Love (1964) and When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965).