Connie Francis, born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, passed away on July 17, 2025, at the age of 87, marking the end of a remarkable and often heartbreaking chapter in American pop history. Her close friend and president of Concetta Records, Ron Roberts, confirmed the news.
A trailblazer of her time, Francis was the first female solo artist to reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” in 1960. Her breakout hit “Who’s Sorry Now?” turned her into a household name in 1958 after airing on American Bandstand. With a voice both tender and unmistakable, she bridged genres from pop ballads to traditional Italian music, becoming a global star who re-recorded hits in multiple languages.
Her catalog includes beloved classics like “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” and the anthem “Where the Boys Are,” which led to a film starring Francis herself. But behind the fame lay deep personal struggles: a violent assault in 1974, a temporary vocal loss, and the tragic murder of her brother in 1981. She battled mental health issues, yet never stopped advocating for others—supporting rape survivors and working with mental health organizations and the White House.
In 2024, her song “Pretty Little Baby” unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, bringing her music to a new generation. Francis embraced the moment with characteristic wit, joking she had forgotten recording it.
Her life, marked by resilience and voice, was summed up best in her own words: “Don’t remember me for how high I climbed. Remember how deep I came back from.”
Connie Francis leaves behind her son, her unforgettable voice, and an enduring legacy of strength through song.