I am no fan of halls of fame, especially the incredibly biased, incredibly derisive and incredibly dismissive Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I refuse to join in with the “who deserves to be inducted” debate. That said, Connie Francis is one of the best-selling music artists in history, with estimated sales of over 100 million records. In 1960, she became the first woman in history to reach Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her recording of “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool.” Yet induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has eluded her. In the Hall’s 42 years of existence, Connie Francis had never even been nominated for induction.
Connie passed away this week at the age of 87. She enjoyed a career filled with international fame. She suffered a number of tragedies, including a harrowing rape in a New York hotel room.
In May 2025, Connie’s 1962 recording of “Pretty Little Baby” went viral based on its use in a TikTok video. Although pleased, Connie asked those close to her what “viral” meant.