Singer Connie Francis has passed away at 87-years-old
He wrote: 'It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night.
"I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news."
(Image: Newsquest)
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Francis had recently been in hospital prior to her passing.
The singer shot to renewed fame in recent years when her song Pretty Little Baby went viral on TikTok, more than 60 years after its original release.
The track became a favourite among influencers, who lip-synced along to its nostalgic lyrics.
The viral success left Francis 'thrilled and overwhelmed', especially as the song topped Spotify streaming charts in both the UK and US earlier this year.
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The track has since racked up more than 74.8 million streams on the platform.
Reflecting on the track's surprise resurgence, she admitted: 'To tell you the truth, I didn't even remember the song — 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.'
Francis, who enjoyed a celebrated career spanning decades, said she was honoured that fans — both old and new — were embracing her music once again.
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Following the announcement of her death, tributes have poured in from fans and admirers around the world.
One wrote: 'RIP Connie, thank you for all your beautiful songs and movies.'
Another commented: 'Very sad news. An amazingly talented and lovely lady.'
A third added: 'I'm so sorry to hear this.'
And a fourth said: 'May she rest in peace. She will always be in our hearts because of her music.'
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