Connie Francis, the beloved singer behind “Pretty Little Baby” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”, died at age 87 on July 16, 2025 in Florida. She had been hospitalised in early July for pelvic pain from a fracture and then suffered a sudden health decline. According to her close friend and label president Ron Roberts, she passed away peacefully after a bout of pneumonia following a week in the hospital.
- Hospitalised July 2 with severe pelvic pain from a fracture.
- Recovered briefly, but then worsened and slipped into unconsciousness .
- Doctors confirmed pneumonia as the terminal illness.

Hospitalisation and Decline
Connie disclosed pelvic pain and reliance on a wheelchair due to a fracture in late June. She was admitted to Broward Health North in Florida on July 2, underwent tests in ICU, then transferred to a private room.
A couple days later, she felt better and even left the hospital briefly. However, she soon deteriorated again, became unconscious for at least two days, and on July 16, she quietly “slipped away” after developing pneumonia.
Ron Roberts’ Tribute
Ron Roberts, her friend and president of Concetta Records, shared that Connie’s pain had been severe and hard to locate exactly—thought to be hip-related. He said she remained optimistic until the end and “would be smiling” knowing her 1962 hit “Pretty Little Baby” had gone viral on TikTok just months before her death.
This one really hurts. The beautiful Connie Francis passed away yesterday at the age of 87. RIP Connie 💔🕊 pic.twitter.com/m0cUQYh5a4
— ClassicActorsOfHollywood (@CAOH110291) July 17, 2025
Medical Cause of Death
Connie had a pelvic fracture that caused intense pain and healthcare complications, leading to hospitalization. While undergoing diagnostic tests in ICU, she developed pneumonia, which became the fatal illness. Stress from the pain and tests weakened her body during her last days .
Connie Francis has passed away at the age of 87 pic.twitter.com/JS5Mq31CQo
— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) July 17, 2025
COVID-Free Final Days
Roberts noted that despite her physical suffering, Connie remained conscious of the joy her music still brought to fans worldwide. She never conveyed fever or cough before her passing—pneumonia was discovered late, and she never tested positive for COVID-19. This pneumonia emerged during her hospitalization, not from infection prior to admission .
the world has lost a great one last night.
— Brody Bower (@BrodyLeeBower) July 17, 2025
RIP to connie francis.
you may know her from the recent viral hit
'pretty little baby'..
87 years young.
now you're with bobby once again! 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/ynA9v4AuOF
‘Pretty Little Baby’ singer Connie Francis has passed away aged 87.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 17, 2025
The pop star who became popular in the '50s and '60s was the first woman to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist.
Her 1962 hit ‘Pretty Little Baby’ has become a viral hit on Tiktok over… pic.twitter.com/o5cjWYvZee
Legacy Unshaken
- Connie Francis became the first woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and maintained her title as the solo female artist with most Top 10 hits until the Beatles surpassed her.
- Her 1962 B‑side “Pretty Little Baby” went viral on TikTok in early 2025, earning over 74 million Spotify streams and introducing her voice to a new generation
- Her music crossed languages and cultures; she sold over 100 million records worldwide and recorded songs in 15 languages.
Her Final Words
In her last social media posts on July 2 and July 4, Connie shared updates—first confirming her hospitalization, then saying she felt “much better after a good night.” These were the final public messages before her condition took a sharp turn.
Connie Francis’s death was caused primarily by pneumonia, developed during a severe hospital stay prompted by a pelvic fracture. Her health issues came on suddenly after a brief recovery, and despite aggressive care, she passed peacefully on July 16, 2025. Her music legacy—spanning groundbreaking achievements and viral revival—remains firmly intact through her record-breaking chart history and emotional connection with fans.