Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, known professionally as Connie Francis, an iconic American pop singer and actress, passed away on July 16, 2025, at the age of 87. Her death was confirmed by Ron Roberts, the president of her record label, Concetta Records. Earlier in July, Francis had been hospitalized for "extreme pain" following a pelvic fracture.

Born on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, to an Italian-American family, Francis began her journey in music at a young age, encouraged by her father, George Franconero, who played the accordion. She started playing the accordion at the age of three and performing publicly at four. Throughout her childhood, she appeared in talent shows, some of which were broadcast on television. Under the name Connie Franconero, she appeared on NBC's variety show Startime Kids between 1953 and 1955. Arthur Godfrey, the host of Startime Kids, suggested she adopt the name Connie Francis.

Francis signed a contract with MGM Records in 1955. Her initial singles didn't achieve commercial success. However, in 1957, she recorded "Who's Sorry Now," a 1920s standard, as a rock ballad. Dick Clark played the song on American Bandstand in 1958, which led to it becoming a hit. As Francis herself said, "Without Dick Clark, there would be no Connie Francis". "Who's Sorry Now?" sold a million copies within six months.

In 1960, she was recognized as the most successful female recording artist in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Australia. In June 1960, her song "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first woman to achieve this since the chart's launch in August 1958. She had three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" in 1960, and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" in 1962. Francis had a total of 53 entries on the Billboard Hot 100. Some of her other hits include "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Where the Boys Are," "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart," and "Second Hand Love". "Where the Boys Are" also became the theme song for her first motion picture.

Francis recorded albums in various languages, including Italian, Spanish, German, and Yiddish. This strategy helped her gain international recognition. During the Vietnam War, in 1967, she performed for US troops.

Personal tragedies and medical issues impacted Francis's career, starting in 1974. Following a performance in 1974, she was sexually assaulted in her motel room. She sued the motel chain and won a settlement, which helped reshape security practices in the hospitality industry. She also underwent nasal surgery that affected her voice, requiring multiple surgeries to regain her singing ability. In 1981, her brother was murdered.

Francis returned to performing in 1981 and continued to sing in later years. In 2025, her song "Pretty Little Baby" experienced a resurgence on social media, becoming a viral trend on TikTok. Francis told People that she "didn't even remember the song" and that it was "truly awesome" that a song she recorded 63 years ago was touching the hearts of millions of people.

Connie Francis was married four times. She considered Bobby Darin, with whom she had a relationship early in her career, the love of her life.

Connie Francis leaves behind a legacy as a talented and versatile artist who overcame numerous challenges throughout her life.