'Stupid Cupid' singer Connie Francis dies at 87
Connie Francis shot to fame in 1958 with the release of "Who's Sorry Now." Photo: AFP
American singer Connie Francis, whose hits such as "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "Stupid Cupid" topped the charts in the late 1950s and 1960s, has died aged 87, her publicist announced on Thursday.
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Francis had found renewed popularity in recent months as her 1962 song "Pretty Little Baby" went viral on TikTok and other video-sharing platforms.
She was hospitalised earlier in the month after experiencing severe pain and had undergone a hip treatment, according to a post on her official Facebook page.
"It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night," her publicist, Ron Roberts, posted early on Thursday on Facebook, without specifying a cause.
Though Francis's heyday faded after the 1960s, she continued to record and perform for decades.
When announcing her hospitalisation on July 2, she expressed regret about having to miss a planned Independence Day show.
The singer had publicly discussed significant struggles with her mental health, particularly following a 1974 rape in a New York motel and the murder of her brother in 1981.
She was married and divorced four times, and in 2022 announced the death of her partner of almost two decades, Tony Ferretti.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, to an Italian-American family, Francis shot to fame in 1958 with the release of "Who's Sorry Now."
She went on in the next decade to sell millions of records worldwide, with albums in multiple languages. (AFP)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
ONE Championship signs up world's top women's jiu-jitsu prospect
Helena Crevar's meteoric rise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu has already made her a stand-out name – now, the teenage sensation is set to bring her talents to the global stage with ONE Championship. Advertisement The 18-year-old Las Vegas native has officially signed with ONE and is an exciting addition to the submission grappling roster. But what makes her arrival even more significant is the nature of her deal: a rare non-exclusive contract that allows her to continue competing in other events around the world. 'It's really important that athletes get to compete wherever possible,' Crevar told the Post. 'It helps both the athletes and the promotions to be more open, have more options, and get the most experience.' Crevar is widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the sport. She became the youngest ever podium placer at the ADCC World Championships in 2024, claiming silver at just 17 years old. That same year, she also captured the Polaris 70-kilogram title and continued collecting IBJJF World and Pan-American titles across multiple belt levels. A product of the famed New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team under legendary coach John Danaher, Crevar moved to Austin, Texas, at the age of 15 to train full time. She was promoted to black belt in June 2025, marking 10 years since she first stepped onto the mats. 'To be John Danaher's first female black belt is a huge honour,' she said. 'He's incredibly smart; he knows the answer to any position or scenario. I've never trained under anyone like him.'
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
From Naomi Watts to Graydon Carter, 5 celebrity memoirs worth your time
Perhaps it's due to a collective nostalgia for glory years we did or didn't experience, a necessary source of escapism in rather grim times, or because we really do want to find out if celebrities are just like us, but recent years have witnessed a boom in celebrity memoirs. Not just celebrities either, but high-profile editors, tycoons and assorted influential people have been putting pen to paper (or their memoirists and ghostwriters have) to capture not only their life and work, but also the culture surrounding them. For what makes a memoir interesting? Well, for one, it needs to be juicy. We need some tidbits; there must be proximity to celebrity and/or glamour, perhaps a redemption arc and an insight into the world at large through the eyes of said person. The current, well, vogue for books about those high up in the pecking order at publishing behemoth Condé Nast is a case in point. Everybody is talking about When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter, the former long-time editor of Vanity Fair, for precisely these reasons. The days of limitless budgets and town cars are well and truly over for most publishing houses – but oh boy, we really do want to read about when the days really were that good. Celebrity memoirs worth reading include that of Diane von Furstenberg's openly gay husband, media tycoon Barry Diller. Photo: AFP Advertisement Ultimately, we want to read the truth of someone – without all the edges sawn off – and in reading about someone else we might learn something about ourselves too. Here are five star-powered memoirs worth the read. When the Going Was Good – Graydon Carter When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines, by former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter. Photo: Handout For 25 years Graydon Carter was the editor-in-chief of Condé Nast jewel Vanity Fair, right when it was the nerve centre of culture, celebrity, business and scandal. As Carter dishes in this glossy and rather delightful memoir (ghostwritten by journalist James Fox), the going really was good. The best bits are the insights into a very different media landscape (unlimited budgets! Town cars!) and into the big personalities Carter came across, and occasionally sparred with. Donald Trump and Vogue's Anna Wintour are particularly notable ones. It's as much an ode to magazines at their most glorious as it is a how-to in living well. Who Knew – Barry Diller Who Knew, by Barry Diller, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures who also launched the Fox TV network – and married Diane von Furstenberg. Photo: Handout
South China Morning Post
25-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
4 things trending this summer, from Labubu to Dubai chocolate
These days, it seems like everything from what we eat to what we wear is influenced by a viral internet sensation. Here are four trends that we have spotted online and in the city. Ballet flats Frequently spotted on Hong Kong streets and at designer shows, these easy-to-wear ballerina-inspired flat shoes have been enjoying quite the resurgence. Perhaps last popular in the 2000s, Vogue has proclaimed the flats the 'it-shoe' of 2025. But where did the shoe actually come from? Its origins date back to the 1600s. Marie-Anne de Cupis de Camargo, a French ballerina of the Paris Opera, removed the heel of her pointe shoes, creating the now-standard ballet slipper. Ballet flats from Miu Miu. Photo: Miu Miu Modern iterations would not become mainstream until the 20th century, when American designers like Claire McCardell began creating their own versions alongside Parisian shoemakers such as Repetto. Quickly becoming associated with French culture and classic, feminine looks, ballet flats have remained a wardrobe staple throughout the years. Today, designers have breathed new life into the trend, playing with different materials and styles. You can find ballet flats made of mesh, crochet or even jellylike plastic – the possibilities are endless! Pistachio Featured in everything from egg tarts to ice cream, mochi, and drinks, clamouring for this nutty filling and flavour has caused a pistachio shortage, not unlike matcha. The main culprit, if you ask this author, has to be 'Dubai chocolate', more on that later, which uses the nut as a vital component in its filling. Even beyond menus, the soft colour has also found its way into the 2025 spring/summer collections of brands like Miu Miu, Prada and Alexander McQueen. A promotional photo for Godiva's collaboration with Pop Mart, featuring pistachio flavours and Kasing Lung's character Labubu from his series 'The Monsters'. Dubai chocolate Although this trend began in 2024, it does not appear to be on its way out. Dubai-based chocolatier FIX is credited for this variety, which combines a rich pistachio cream filling with crunchy kataifi pastry, stuffed into a milk chocolate bar. It was first created by the company founder, Sarah Hamouda, as a unique way to satisfy her pregnancy cravings. As the crispy kadayif-pistachio cream chocolate gained popularity, other leading chocolate brands such as Läderach and Lindt began producing their own variations. Social media helped propel the rise of this decadent dessert, and soon the concept was incorporated into various other pastries. In Hong Kong, Godiva launched limited-edition Dubai chocolate soft serves and milkshakes in partnership with one of the other biggest trends of the year – Labubu. Labubu Depending on who you ask, Labubu is equal parts ugly, frightening and adorable. Chances are, you have heard of the furry dolls that have become a global toy sensation, – but do you know about their connection to Hong Kong? Labubu creator Lung Ka-sing, at his studio in Kwun Tong. Photo: Jonathan Wong Labubu is actually the name of an elfish creature featured in The Monsters, a series by Hong Kong-Dutch artist Lung Ka-sing, or Kasing Lung. Born in Hong Kong, Lung and his family immigrated to the Netherlands when he was around six years old. To improve his Dutch, a teacher suggested that he read young adult books with illustrations, especially those about Nordic folklore and mythology. Lung used this mythology to create Labubu and her friends! In mid-2024, Blackpink's Lisa was spotted with a furry toy keychain and also posted about a collection of plush dolls produced by the Chinese company Pop Mart, based on Lung's design. This propelled the character into the spotlight, starting in Thailand, Southeast Asia and East Asia, but quickly sweeping the globe. Fans wait in long queues to grab Pop Mart bling boxes, where you can only discover what you have bought after opening the package. Resell prices have gone up exponentially, and there is even a whole market ecosystem dedicated to accessorising the dolls.
