‘Pretty Little Baby' singer Connie Francis dies aged 87
'It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night,' Roberts wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.
'I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news. More details will follow later.'
Francis had been forced to cancel a scheduled US Independence Day appearance with radio host Cousin Brucie earlier this month after being taken to hospital in severe discomfort.
On July 2, she wrote in a social media update: 'Hello everyone – as many of you may now have learned through Cousin Brucie's Facebook page, I am back in hospital where I have been undergoing tests and checks to determine the cause(s) of the extreme pain I have been experiencing.
'I had hoped to take part in Brucie's show for Independence Day, having had to cancel a previous slot a few weeks ago when receiving treatment on my hip. Sadly, I had to let him know that I again had to withdraw. My thanks for your many get well soon messages. I will endeavour to keep you updated. Love, Connie.'
Francis, who was born Concetta Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, in December 1937, rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the most successful female recording artists of her era.
While many of her best-known songs were recorded decades ago, she recently experienced a surprising resurgence in popularity thanks to social media.
Her track Pretty Little Baby, which originally was not released as a single, has become a viral favourite on TikTok and Instagram Reels in 2024, featured in videos by celebrities including Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian.
According to Billboard, US weekly streams of the song jumped from 17,000 in April to 2.4 million by May.
Speaking about the track's renewed popularity in May, Francis admitted she '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.'
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