Connie Francis Dies at 87

Connie Francis, the iconic pop star of the 1950s and 1960s, has passed away at the age of 87. Her death was announced by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, but no additional details were provided.

Francis was a top performer during the pre-Beatles era, with hits like "Pretty Little Baby" and more than a dozen top 20 songs to her name. She had a unique ability to appeal to both young people and adults, starting with "Who's Sorry Now?" and including the No. 1 songs "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own." Like other teen favorites of her time, she also starred in several films, including "Where the Boys Are" and "Follow the Boys."

Despite her success and popularity, Francis' life was marked by tragedy and heartbreak. She fell in love with singer and songwriter Bobby Darin, but their relationship was cut short due to his untimely death at age 37 in 1973.

"The biggest mistake of my life" was not marrying Bobby Darin, Francis later wrote.

Tragedy struck again when Francis was raped and nearly suffocated at knife point in a New York motel after appearing at the Westbury Music Fair in 1974. The perpetrator was never found. In 1981, her brother, George Franconero, Jr., was killed by Mafia hitmen.

Francis resumed her recording and performing career in 1989, headlining in Las Vegas and releasing a double album, "Where the Hits Are," featuring re-recordings of 18 of her best-selling songs. She released a live album in 1996 and returned to Las Vegas as a headliner again in 2004.

In 2017, Francis released her autobiography, "Among My Souvenirs," and retired in 2018. However, she enjoyed a renewed surge of popularity after her hit single "Pretty Little Baby" became popular on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok this year.