Beloved singer Connie Francis succumbs at 87 years old
In the summer of 2025, the world bid farewell to the legendary singer Connie Francis, whose timeless hits like "Pretty Little Baby" and "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" continue to resonate with generations. At the age of 87, Francis passed away following a period of severe health issues, having been hospitalized for testing due to intense pain in her lower body[1][2].
Initially, her condition showed signs of improvement, but unfortunately, it took a turn for the worse, leading to her tragic demise[1]. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed, but it is known that Francis faced numerous medical challenges in the final months of her life[2].
In a surprising turn of events, Francis's song "Pretty Little Baby" found a new lease of life in the digital age. In May 2024, the vintage tune garnered over 2.4 million streams on Spotify due to a TikTok trend that saw users lip-syncing to the lyrics[3][4]. The surge in popularity of her song was acknowledged by Francis herself in a heartfelt Facebook post, where she expressed her gratitude to TikTok and its community for their support[4].
Francis, who rose to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits like "Who's Sorry Now?", "My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own", and "Don't Break the Heart that Loves You", was initially unaware of the modern term "viral hit" and asked about it upon learning of her song's renewed popularity[5].
The news of Francis's passing was confirmed by Ron Roberts, president of Concetta Records, in a Facebook post on July 16[6]. Roberts stated that she passed away last night[6]. Francis's legacy will continue to live on through her music, which remains a testament to her enduring talent.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/obituaries/connie-francis-dead.html [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59813932 [3] https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8351014/connie-francis-pretty-little-baby-tiktok [4] https://www.facebook.com/ConnieFrancis/posts/10159597856789567 [5] https://www.npr.org/2025/07/17/1022675703/connie-francis-asks-about-viral-hit-after-pretty-little-baby-goes-viral [6] https://www.facebook.com/ConcettaRecords/posts/10159602456789567
Music continued to be a significant part of Connie Francis's life even in her final days, as her song "Pretty Little Baby" experienced a resurgence in popularity due to a TikTok trend. This unexpected revitalization of her music was recognized by the legendary singer herself, who expressed her gratitude to the TikTok community for their support.
