Singer Connie Francis passes away at the age of 87
American pop singer Connie Francis, known for her hits like "Who's Sorry Now?" and "Pretty Little Baby," passed away on July 17, 2025, at the age of 87. In her final days, her song "Pretty Little Baby" experienced a revival on TikTok, a platform she joined just a few days before her death.
During the early 1960s, Connie Francis achieved significant success in Germany with several hit songs, including German-language recordings specially adapted for the German market. Notably, her German hit **"Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel"** (a version of her American hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool") became her first No. 1 single in West Germany after lyrics were penned by Ralph Maria Siegel[1]. She followed this success with two more German chart-toppers: **"Paradiso"** in September 1962 and **"Barcarole in der Nacht"** in July 1963[1].
While there is no confirmed documentation of official collaborations with Peter Kraus, a well-known Schlager star during the same era, Connie Francis' German Schlager successes seem to have been largely solo projects with German lyrics customized for the local audience[1][2]. Her Schlager career mainly consisted of German-language versions of her internationally popular songs and some independent German releases[1][2].
In addition to her hits **"Die Liebe ist ein seltsames Spiel"**, **"Paradiso"**, and **"Barcarole in der Nacht"**, "Pretty Little Baby" (German version) is also recognized as part of her German-language repertoire[4]. Other successful titles in Germany include "Schöner fremder Mann" and "Tu' mir nicht weh," which are still considered Schlager classics.
In the days leading up to her passing, Connie Francis was admitted to a clinic for treatment. It was during this time that the revival of her song "Pretty Little Baby" on TikTok occurred, gaining her almost 180,000 followers within a short period[3]. Ron Roberts, her manager, announced her death on his official Facebook page, stating that she passed away the previous night.
[1] https://www.discogs.com/artist/44736-Connie-Francis [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Francis [3] https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8860713/connie-francis-tiktok-pretty-little-baby-revival [4] https://www.discogs.com/Connie-Francis-Pretty-Little-Baby/release/15263673
Entertainment platforms like TikTok played a significant role in Connie Francis's final days, as her song "Pretty Little Baby" experienced a revival, gaining her new followers and reaching a younger audience. This popularity among fans and followers further demonstrates the enduring appeal of popular celebrities like Connie Francis, whose music continues to entertain fans decades after her initial success.
