Connie Francis, who at 87 is enjoying a remarkable and surprising return to the spotlight thanks to her 1962 song “Pretty Little Baby” going viral on TikTok, has been hospitalized for what she says is “extreme pain.” The “Where The Boys Are” singer canceled a planned July 4th radio appearance.
Francis, who earlier this month said on Facebook that she had suffered a fractured hip, wrote on her page yesterday that she is back in the hospital.
“As many of you may now have learned through [radio DJ] 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,” she wrote. “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.”
In a subsequent post last night, Francis reported that she had been transferred from intensive care to a private room. She did not disclose the location of the hospital, though she now lives in Florida.
Since going viral this spring, the bouncy “Pretty Little Baby” has been streamed billions of times, prompting Republic Records to re-release the song as a single. The record peaked on May 31 at No. 13 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
Last week Francis took to TikTok herself, posting a video in which she thanked fans, including some celebrities who have taken part in the viral sensation. “Hi Everyone,” she said. “I’m still astounded by the popularity of ‘Pretty Little Baby’. My thanks to Kylie Jenner, Timothée Chalamet, Kim Kardashian, North West Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Agnetha Fältskog, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Gracie Lawrence, Shaq O’Neal & Jimmy Fallon and others for their inclusions in the videos that contributed to the 17 billion-plus plays featuring the song!”
One of the people she thanked – the Tony-nominated Gracie Lawrence – currently plays Francis in the hit Broadway show Just In Time, the Bobby Darin jukebox musical starring Jonathan Groff. Darin and Francis dated in the 1950s.
