Connie Francis, Iconic Singer and New Jersey Native, Dies at 87
Connie Francis, the beloved pop icon known for timeless hits like “Pretty Little Baby” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” has died at the age of 87.
Her passing was confirmed Thursday by longtime friend and copyright manager Ron Roberts, who shared the news on social media—two weeks after Francis had been hospitalized with “extreme pain.”
“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 in a Facebook post. “I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news.”
In a series of posts on July 3 and 4, Francis shared that she was “feeling much better” while recovering in the hospital.
The following week, the singer — born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero — told fans she was still under close medical supervision as doctors worked to identify the source of her pain.
Back in May, the “Stupid Cupid” singer had revealed that a recent hip injury had temporarily confined her to a wheelchair.
Although she retired from the music industry in 2018, Connie Francis recently experienced an unexpected resurgence in popularity when her 1962 track “Pretty Little Baby” went viral on TikTok—more than six decades after its original release on her album Connie Francis Sings.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t even remember the song!” Francis admitted. “I had to listen to it to remember.”
Reflecting on the renewed attention, she said, “To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is touching the hearts of millions of people is truly awesome. It’s an amazing feeling.”
The Jamboree actress added, “It’s an honor. To see that they’re paying homage to me is just breathtaking.”
“It’s truly awesome. I never thought it was possible,” she continued. “It’s a dream come true. To think that kindergarten kids now know my name and my music? It’s just thrilling.”
In her final social media post before her death, Connie Francis expressed gratitude to a number of celebrities—including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift—who had engaged with her viral track on social media.
“There have been many wonderful artists who have paid tribute to me by singing ‘Pretty Little Baby,’” she said in a TikTok video shared on June 26.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1937, Francis discovered her passion for music at the age of four, participating in neighborhood talent shows and pageants that would mark the beginning of a legendary career.
She later ventured into television, landing a prominent role on NBC’s Startime Kids, during which she adopted her stage name, Connie Francis.
Her illustrious music career includes a string of hit singles such as the Top 10 chart-toppers “Who’s Sorry Now?,” “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own,” “Where the Boys Are,” and “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You.”
Francis made history as the first female singer to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her 1960 hit “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.”
In 1955, she signed a recording contract with MGM Records; however, the early partnership struggled as many of her songs initially failed to gain traction.
Just as her label was preparing to drop her in 1957, Francis’ father—her biggest fan and supporter—encouraged her to record a version of “Who’s Sorry Now?” as a last-ditch effort to revive her career.
Fortunately, that decision paid off, and Francis soon soared to stardom with hits like “My Happiness,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” and “Among My Souvenirs.”
Her 1959 album, Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, was a fan favorite, setting the stage for her 1960 hit “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” to top the newly established Billboard charts.
However, by the 1970s, Francis’ music career began to decline following a series of personal challenges.
In 1955, the singer secured a recording contract with MGM Records.
Her illustrious music career featured hits such as “Who’s Sorry Now?,” “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own,” “Where the Boys Are,” and “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You.”
In addition to surviving a traumatic rape, Francis temporarily lost her voice in 1977 following nasal surgery. Tragedy struck again in 1981 when her brother George was murdered by the Mafia.
Despite these hardships, she tried to express her pain through new music, though these efforts failed to gain commercial success.
Her mental health deteriorated, leading her father to have her admitted to several psychiatric hospitals.
After surviving a suicide attempt in 1984, Francis published a candid memoir titled Who’s Sorry Now?
In the years that followed, she partnered with Ronald Reagan’s presidential administration on a task force addressing violent crime and became an outspoken advocate for rape survivors.
@connie_francis_official Hi Everyone – I’m still astounded by the popularity of “Pretty Little Baby”. My thanks to Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Kim Kardashian, North West Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Agnetha Fältskog, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Gracie Lawrence, Shaq O’Neal & Jimmy Fallon and others for their inclusions in the videos that contributed to the 17 billion-plus plays featuring the song!
Francis continued to raise awareness about the impact of trauma through her partnership with Mental Health America in 2010.
In her personal life, she dated singer Bobby Darin early in her career—much to her father’s disapproval. She considered Darin, who passed away in 1973 at age 37, the love of her life, though her father kept them apart for reasons that remain unclear.
“My personal life is a regret from A to Z,” Francis told People magazine in 1984. “I realized I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me.”
Francis was married four times. She wed her first husband, Dick Kanellis, in 1964, but they divorced just five months later. She later married Izzy Marion in 1971, though that marriage ended after 10 months.
Francis’s stardom grew with hits like “My Happiness,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” and “Among My Souvenirs.”
In 1973, she married Joseph Garzilli, and the couple adopted a son, Joseph Jr., the following year. They eventually separated in 1977.
Her final marriage was to Bob Parkinson in 1985, but the union lasted only a few months.
Francis is survived by her son.
