Connie Francis, Legendary Pop And Country Star Dies At 87 Following Recent Hospital Admission

Connie Francis has died aged 87, it has been reported.

The legendary pop and country singer's death was confirmed by her friend Ron Roberts on Thursday, just weeks after Connie was admitted to hospital in Florida.

In a statement shared on Facebook, Ron penned: 'It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that i inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night

'I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news. More details will follow later.'

Her sad passing comes shortly after her 1962 song Pretty Little Baby went viral on TikTok, putting her back in the charts for the first time in over 60 years.

 

As news of her death circulated, tributes came flooding in from fans on X (formerly Twitter) as they expressed their sadness at her loss.

 

Fans penned: 'So sad to hear about the great Connie Francis. Paying musical tribute during the Heritage Chart Breakfast show...so many great songs...Lipstick on Your Collar, Where The Boys Are, Stupid Cupid, V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N, Whose Sorry Now & many, many more. Terrific career. Great legacy.'

'The world has lost a great one last night. RIP to connie francis. you may know her from the recent viral hit 'pretty little baby'.. 87 years young. now you're with bobby once again.'

'Rip Connie Francis 1937 - 2025. Goodbye to a true icon.'

'This one really hurts. The beautiful Connie Francis passed away yesterday at the age of 87. RIP Connie.'

'That’s such a same. Listened to so many of her records over the years and my Mum used to sing her songs beautifully. R.I.P Connie Francis!'

Earlier this month, TMZ reported that Connie had been admitted to a Florida hospital, though the reason for her hospitalization wasn't known at the time.

 

It was said that she was admitted to the intensive care unit after experiencing 'extreme pain'. She had reportedly been dealing with orthopedic health issues over the last few years, which doctors had been monitoring regularly.

At the time, the performer, who was said to have been confined to a wheelchair amid her pain, was forced to cancel an appearance on Cousin Brucie’s Independence Day radio show.

Addressing her absence on his show, Connie later penned on Cousin Bruce's Facebook announcement: 'I had hoped to take part in Brucie's show for Independence Day, having had to cancel a previous slot a few weeks ago when receiving treatment on my hip.

'Sadly, I had to let him know that I again had to withdraw. My thanks for your many get well soon messages. I will endeavor to keep you updated. Love, Connie.'

Shortly afterwards, Connie confirmed she had been moved from intensive care to a 'private room' following a series of tests, with the star going on to thank her fans for their well wishes.  

Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero into a large Italian family, the singer was encouraged by her family to perform at an early age.

She changed her name to Connie Francis on a suggestion during an audition for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, appearing on NBC's Startime Kids as a teenager.

While she had minor success in her 20s with singles such as The Majesty of Love and You, My Darlin', You,' she considered leaving music for a career in medicine.

At the insistence of her father, she recorded a cover of the 1923 song Who's Sorry Now in late 1957, which would sell over 1 million copies in 1958.

She recorded a slew of hit records throughout the 1960s, though her rape in a Jericho, New York hotel lead her into more than a decade of seclusion and refuge.

She won a landmark $2.5 million judgment that lead to widespread changes in hotel security. 

A decade after her assault, she wrote the autobiography Who's Sorry Now, which became a New York Times bestseller.

The singer was also once linked to crooner Bobby Darin. Her 1984 memoir even has two chapters dedicated to the 'Mack the Knife' singer. 

She returned to recording and performing in 1989 and wrote another autobiography - Among My Souvenirs - before retiring in 2018. 

Her work was rediscovered earlier this year with millions of fans lip syncing the catchy 1962 song Pretty Little Baby on TikTok, making it a viral hit six decades later.

She told People in March, 'To tell you the truth, I didn't even remember the song! I had to listen to it to remember.'

 

'To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is touching the hearts of millions of people is truly awesome. It is an amazing feeling,' she added.

Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian's daughter North even got in on the fun, as Francis added, 'It’s an honor. To see that they're paying homage to me is just breathtaking.'