Connie Francis, the beloved pop singer who became a household name in the 1950s and ’60s with hits like “Pretty Little Baby” and “Who’s Sorry Now?”, has passed away at the age of 87. Her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, announced her death on Thursday, though no further details were immediately shared. Earlier this month, Francis had revealed she was hospitalized and suffering from “extreme pain.”
Recently, Francis found herself back in the spotlight when her 1962 single “Pretty Little Baby” went viral on TikTok. Even celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner joined in celebrating the song. In a video posted on the platform, Francis expressed her surprise and joy: “To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me.”
Francis was one of the top stars of the pre-Beatles era, consistently appearing on music charts between 1957 and 1964. She managed to connect with both teens and adults, earning more than a dozen Top 20 hits, including chart-toppers like “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own.” In addition to her music career, she also appeared in several popular films, such as Where the Boys Are and Follow the Boys.
Her music career began at just 17 when she signed with MGM Records after several TV variety show appearances. Her early recordings didn’t gain much traction until she released “Who’s Sorry Now?”—a revival of a 1920s ballad. Initially overlooked, the song gained momentum after Dick Clark featured it on American Bandstand in 1958. His support played a crucial role in launching her stardom, and Francis often credited him with saving her career.
She followed up with more hits, including “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” Her popularity was global, as she recorded her songs in multiple languages, including Italian and Spanish, and performed to sold-out crowds across the country.
Francis also had a high-profile romance with fellow teen idol Bobby Darin, who wrote songs for her. However, when her father discovered they might elope, he confronted Darin with a gun, ending the relationship. Francis would later describe this as a turning point that led to years of personal hardship.
In her memoir, Who’s Sorry Now?, she reflected on her turbulent personal life, saying she regretted allowing her father to have such a strong influence over her decisions. George Franconero, her father, was a New Jersey roofing contractor who managed her career from the time she was a toddler. He gave her a small accordion at age three and began booking singing engagements when she was just four.
By the 1970s, her film career had slowed, but she remained a popular performer. In 1974, after a show in New York, she was sexually assaulted in her hotel room. Her attacker was never caught. Francis sued the hotel for inadequate security and was awarded $2.5 million by a jury. The case was eventually settled out of court for $1.475 million. She said the trauma deeply affected her personal life and mental health.
In 1981, tragedy struck again when her brother George was fatally shot outside his New Jersey home. Not long after, her father had her committed to a psychiatric hospital, where she was diagnosed with manic depression. She attempted suicide during this time but survived and recovered after being in a coma for three days.
Determined to make a difference, Francis later wrote to President Ronald Reagan, offering to help others affected by crime. She called herself “America’s most famous crime victim” and was appointed to a federal task force on violent crime.
Despite her hardships, Francis remained resilient. “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me,” she once said. “I have my voice, a gift from God I took for granted before. He gave it back to me.”
She was married four times but only spoke positively of her third husband, Joseph Garzilli. The other marriages were brief, each lasting less than a year.
Born Concetta Rosemarie Franconero on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, she began her entertainment career early, appearing on shows like Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and The Perry Como Show by the age of 9. It was Godfrey who encouraged her to adopt the stage name Connie Francis—a name that would soon become synonymous with golden-era pop music.
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