Music icon Connie Francis, whose classic hit "Pretty Little Baby" recently gained renewed popularity after decades, has sadly passed away at the age of 87.
Her close friend, Ron Roberts, shared the heartbreaking news on Thursday, July 17, confirming the singer's passing.
"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," Ron stated.
While the official cause of her passing has not been publicly disclosed, sources suggest that the beloved pop star died following a brief illness.
Earlier this month, Connie Francis, known for hits like "Pretty Little Baby" and "Who's Sorry Now," was hospitalized, leading to the cancellation of her planned performance for the July 4th Independence Day celebrations.
She was admitted to the intensive care unit after experiencing "extreme pain" in her pelvic area, which necessitated her reliance on a wheelchair. Radio personality Cousin Brucie revealed her condition at the time.
A few days later, Francis provided a health update, expressing gratitude to her fans for their prayers and well wishes during her recovery.
Fortunately, before her passing, she had witnessed a resurgence of her 1962 song, "Pretty Little Baby," which went viral on TikTok 63 years after its original release. In an interview with People, Francis shared, "I didn't even remember the song," and she was "thrilled and overwhelmed" by the new wave of love and attention it was receiving from a new generation of fans.
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Connie Francis most successful female singers of late 1950s and 1960s[/caption]
The chart-topping vocalist, who earned her stripes as one of the most successful female singers in the 1950s and 1960s, was rushed to the hospital in Florida on July 2.
“I am back in hospital where I have been undergoing tests and checks to determine the cause(s) of the extreme pain I have been experiencing,” Francis wrote.
In a series of posts on July 3 and 4, Francis said that she was “feeling much better” during her hospital stay.
