Connie Francis, Singer of ‘Pretty Little Baby,’ Dies at 87

Connie Francis, the iconic voice behind the 1962 hit “Pretty Little Baby” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” has died at the age of 87, her manager confirmed. Ron Roberts, her copyrights and royalties manager, shared the news on social media, expressing sadness while noting Francis would have wanted her fans to hear first.

Viral Revival of ‘Pretty Little Baby’

Francis recently enjoyed a resurgence thanks to TikTok, where “Pretty Little Baby” became a viral sensation, featured in over 17 million videos and generating more than 27 billion views worldwide. The track, from her 1962 album Connie Francis Sings ‘Second Hand Love’ & Other Hits, even landed on Spotify’s Global and U.S. charts for the first time this year.

A Trailblazing Career

Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, on December 12, 1937, Francis began performing on television at age 9. She skyrocketed to fame in 1958 with “Who’s Sorry Now” and, by 1960, became the first female artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.”

Over her career, Francis charted 53 Billboard hits and received a special Golden Globe in 1964 for her contributions to music. In 2001, “Who’s Sorry Now” was named one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

A Lasting Legacy

With an estimated 200 million records sold worldwide, Francis leaves behind a legacy that spans generations, forever remembered for her powerful voice and enduring hits.

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