Pop music icon Connie Francis has passed away at the age of 87. Known for her timeless hits like âWhoâs Sorry Now,â âWhere the Boys Are,â and âPretty Little Baby,â Francis had been hospitalized in Florida since July 2, 2025, due to extreme pain.
Though the cause of death was not publicly disclosed, the singer had previously mentioned a hip injury that left her temporarily in a wheelchair. Her longtime friend and copyright manager, Ron Roberts, confirmed the news via a heartfelt post on social media.
Roberts wrote, âIt is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night.â âI know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news. More details will follow later,â he added. The same message was also posted on Francisâ official Facebook page.
Connie Francis rose to fame as one of the most successful female pop artists of her era. Here’s a look at the family she left behind.
Her First Love: Bobby Darin
(Photo by CA/Redferns)Francis had a well-known early romance with singer Bobby Darin in the mid-1950s. Though the two were deeply in love and reportedly planning to elope, her father disapproved and allegedly chased Darin away at gunpoint, ending their relationship.
âMy personal life is a regret from A to Z,â she told People in 1984. âI realized I had allowed my father to exert too much influence over me.â Francis later described Darin, who died in 1973 at age 37, as the love of her life.
Her Marriages & Family Timeline
(Photo by Mychal Watts/Getty Images for SiriusXM)Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, Francis was married four times, but none of her marriages lasted beyond a few years. Francis was married four times throughout her life.
Her first marriage was to press agent and entertainment director Dick Kanellis in 1964, which ended after just five months.
In 1971, she married salon owner Izzy Marion, but the couple divorced 10 months later.
Her third marriage, to restaurateur and travel agency owner Joseph Garzilli, lasted from 1973 to 1977. During this time, they adopted a son, Joseph Jr., in 1974.
Her final marriage was to television producer Bob Parkinson in 1985, which ended in less than a year. Despite the brief nature of her marriages, Francis shared a lasting and meaningful bond with her adopted son, Joseph Garzilli Jr, who remained a central part of her life.
Connie Francis Is Survived by Her Son
(Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)At the time of her passing, Connie Francis was not married. She is survived by her son, Joseph Garzilli Jr., whom she adopted during her third marriage. Despite her troubled relationships, her bond with her adopted son, Joseph Jr., remained central to her later years.
Early Fame, Talent & Heartbreak
(Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)Francis showed musical promise from a young age. She began competing in talent shows at age 4, encouraged by her father. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she was featured on NBCâs Startime Kids in the 1950s and nearly accepted a scholarship to NYU before opting for a music career instead.
Tragedy followed her success: As per The New York Times, Francis was sexually assaulted in November 1974.
She later lost her voice after nasal surgery, and suffered the murder of her brother George in 1981. Still, she returned to the spotlight time and again â a valid symbol of resilience.
A Viral Comeback Before Her Passing
In a full-circle moment, Connie Francis experienced a resurgence in 2025 when her 1963 song âPretty Little Babyâ went viral on TikTok and Instagram, introducing her timeless voice to a new generation.
âI want to be remembered not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths from which I have come,â she told People in 2017. âI hope I did okay.â
Although Connie Francis outlived many of her former partners, her legacy endures through her music and her son, Joseph Garzilli Jr.
How Connie Francis Wanted to Be Remembered
(Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)âThere are a lot of people who have had my success in this business,â she told Gary James in an interview in the late â90s.
âThere were exhilarating highs and abysmal lows. But, it was fighting to get out of those lows that I feel most proud of. It was a struggle to reconcile all of the tragedies that had occurred in my life, and Iâd like to be known for my music. Iâm always honored and privileged when people remember, and it brings back happy memories for a lot of people, and that makes me happy.â You can read the interview here.
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