American singer Connie Francis, known for hits like “Pretty Little Baby” and “Stupid Cupid,” has died at the age of 87.
On Thursday, July 17, her publicist Ron Roberts took to his Facebook to share the news.
“It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night,” he wrote.
He did not state the cause of her death.
Francis, whose real name was Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, had been hospitalized earlier this month after suffering from severe pain and receiving treatment for her hip, according to a post on her official Facebook page.
The singer rose to fame in 1958 after releasing “Who’s Sorry Now?” and continued to top the charts during the 1960s. She sold millions of records worldwide and even released albums in different languages.
Although her fame declined after the ’60s, Francis continued performing and recording for many years. Just recently, her 1962 song “Pretty Little Baby” regained popularity on TikTok.
Francis was open about her struggles in life, especially after experiencing personal tragedies such as a 1974 rape and the 1981 murder of her brother. She was married four times and lost her partner of nearly 20 years, Tony Ferretti, in 2022.
