Connie Francis, pop legend and TikTok darling behind 'Pretty Little Baby' fame, dies at 87

Dubai: Connie Francis, the sweet-voiced pop icon whose hits like Who's Sorry Now? and Where the Boys Are made her a teen idol in the 1950s and '60s—and whose B-side single Pretty Little Baby got a surprise revival on TikTok—has died at the age of 87.

Her death was confirmed by longtime friend and record label president Ron Roberts, who shared the news on Facebook early Thursday, July 17: “It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night.” The announcement was also posted on Francis’ official Facebook page, in keeping with her wish that fans hear the news directly.

Just two weeks ago, Francis told fans she had been hospitalized and undergoing tests to determine the cause of “extreme pain.” She later said she was “feeling much better,” but was readmitted shortly after.

In a rare twist of digital fate, Francis recently found a new generation of fans when her 1962 song Pretty Little Baby—originally the B-side of a single—became a viral hit on TikTok, 63 years after its release. She even admitted in an interview that she didn’t remember recording it. “That song has a whole new life now,” she laughed.

Born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey in 1937, she began performing in pageants and talent shows at just four years old, later appearing on NBC’s Startime Kids. With her father as a guiding (and often controlling) force, Francis signed with MGM Records in 1955. After 18 failed singles, her breakout moment came in 1958 when she reluctantly recorded Who’s Sorry Now?—a track her father insisted on. It became a smash hit after airing on American Bandstand and launched her into international stardom.

Francis became the first woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 with Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool in 1960 and followed it with chart-toppers like My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own and Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You. She also starred in films like Where the Boys Are and became known for recording her hits in multiple languages, making her a global sensation.

Her personal life, however, was marked by profound tragedy. In 1974, she was raped in a Long Island motel. She later lost her voice due to surgery and endured psychiatric institutionalisation and a suicide attempt. Her brother was murdered by the mafia in 1981. Through it all, Francis persevered, writing memoirs, becoming an advocate for rape victims, and speaking openly about her struggles with mental health.

She was married four times and had one adopted son. She once said her biggest regret was not being able to marry singer Bobby Darin, calling him the love of her life.

In a 2017 interview, Francis said she wanted to be remembered “not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths from which I have come. I hope I did okay.”

She did more than okay. She endured, inspired, and even made Gen Z fall in love with her all over again.