Connie Francis dead: Iconic singer dies after short health battle

Legendary singer Connie Francis has died aged 87. The country and pop star's friend Ron Roberts confirmed the sad news of the Pretty Little Baby hitmaker's death.

He said: "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."

Earlier this month, Connie was hospitalised and admitted into the intensive care unit. She was forced to pull out of her planned July 4 Independence Day show.

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Radio star Cousin Brucie revealed Connie had been experiencing "extreme pain" in her pelvic and needed to use a wheelchair. Connie provided a health update just a couple weeks ago as she thanked her fans for their prayers and well wishes.

"Today I am feeling much better after a good night, and wanted to take this opportunity of wishing you all a happy Fourth of July," she wrote.

Connie's track Pretty Little Baby has seen a whole new generation of fans drawn to it in recent weeks, thanks to TikTok. It has proved a hit on social media as influencers have been lip syncing to the lyrics.

She first released the song back in 1962, over 60 years before it has gone viral. Connie was aware of its recent success as she admitted to being "thrilled and overwhelmed" by the new love it was receiving.

Pretty Little Baby has been streamed more than 74.8 million times on Spotify. Connie even confessed to forgetting about the hit song before it's resurgance.

“To tell you the truth, I didn't even remember the song,” she told People. “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.”

Tributes have poured in for Connie following her death. One fan said: "RIP Connie, thank you for all your beautiful songs and movies." Another added: "Very sad news. An amazingly talented and lovely lady."

Someone else commented: "I'm so sorry to hear this." A fourth wrote: "May she rest in peace. She will always be in our hearts because of her music."

Connie's success came in the 1950s and 1960s with her hits Stupid Cupid, Lipstick on Your Collar, Who's Sorry Now, and Where the Boys Are.

Who's Sorry Now went to number one in the UK in 1958 and stayed their for six weeks. Away from the stage, Connie shared how she was misdiagnosed with bipolar, ADHD, as well as attention-deficit disorder.

Throughout her life, Connie married four times however many of them only lasted a few months. She married press agent Dick Kanellis in 194 and in 1971 she wed hair-salon owner Izzy Marion but they split 10 months later.

In 1973 she married restauranteur Joseph Garzili and they adopted a baby boy named Joey. However, Connie and Joseph split in 1977 and she went on to wed TV producer Bob Parkinson in 1985 but they divorced the same year.

She went on to have a long-term relationship with Tony Ferretti from 2003 until his death in 2022

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