The legendary pop sensation Connie Francis, who captured the hearts of audiences in the 1950s and 1960s, passed away at the age of 87. Known for being the first female artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her iconic song “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” in 1960, her death was confirmed by her publicist, Ron Roberts, through a heartfelt Facebook post on Thursday morning, July 17. In his message, he expressed, “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.”

At the time of the announcement, Ron Roberts had not disclosed the location of Connie Francis‘ death or the cause behind it. This tragic news comes shortly after the singer had informed her fans that she was hospitalized in Florida’s ICU due to what she described as “extreme pain.” Her health struggles had raised concerns among her dedicated fanbase, making her passing even more poignant.

Connie Francis officially retired from the music industry in 2018, capping off a remarkable career that began in the late 1950s and early 1960s. During her heyday, she produced a series of catchy pop hits such as “Pretty Little Baby” and “Stupid Cupid.” Additionally, she was known for her emotional ballads like “Where the Boys Are,” “Who’s Sorry Now,” and “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You,” which resonated deeply with her audience and solidified her status as a pop icon.

Following her groundbreaking success with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” Connie Francis achieved another chart-topping hit with “My Mind Has a Heart Of Its Own” and yet another No. 1 hit in 1962 with “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You.” Her unique voice, characterized by its versatility and easy listening quality, propelled her to deliver numerous top five hits, including “My Happiness” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.” However, as musical tastes evolved with the rise of the Beatles and the British Invasion, her chart dominance began to recede by the mid-1960s.

Before achieving fame, Connie Francis, born Concetta Franconero on December 12, 1938, in Newark, New Jersey, sold over 40 million records and became one of the most successful female artists in the United States. Her impressive catalog includes 35 top 40 hits, featuring 16 top 10s and three No. 1 singles, showcasing her remarkable talent and widespread appeal.

Despite her long retirement from both singing and acting, Connie Francis expressed her astonishment earlier this year when her previously lesser-known song “Pretty Little Baby” saw a resurgence in popularity due to a TikTok trend. This revival, which led to the creation of over three million TikTok videos, took her by surprise, as she admitted she scarcely remembered the track. “I had to listen to it to identify it,” she recounted to Billboard, noting the international reach of her music as she revealed she had sung it in seven languages.

Connie Francis began her career in the entertainment industry through pageants and various variety shows in the mid-1950s, often showcasing her accordion skills. However, her journey into the music world faced challenges after signing with MGM Records in 1955, resulting in a series of ten unsuccessful singles that nearly drove her to abandon her dreams. Fortunately, her father encouraged her to record the romantic ballad “Who’s Sorry Now,” a track she initially dismissed as outdated. The song’s success, fueled by its feature on American Bandstand</b in January 1958, sold over one million copies and catapulted her into a flourishing career filled with hit singles in multiple languages, including Yiddish, Italian, and Irish.

Initially cast as the off-screen singing voice for stars like Tuesday Weld in the 1956 film “Rock, Rock, Rock!” and Freda Holloway in the 1957 film “Jamboree,” Connie Francis blossomed into a star in her own right by 1960. Her role in the comedy “Where the Boys Are” was pivotal, leading to a string of lighthearted sequel comedies and musicals, including “Follow the Boys,” “Looking For Love,” and the 1965 film “When the Boys Meet the Girls.”

Like many artists of her time, Connie Francis expanded her audience beyond teenagers by recording sweeping ballads that secured her performances in prestigious venues such as Las Vegas showrooms and New York nightclubs. Although her chart success diminished after her last top 40 hit, “Be Anything (But Be Mine)” in 1964, she continued to draw crowds and maintain a dedicated fan base, particularly among older audiences who cherished her timeless music.