'Pretty Little Baby' became the most popular song on TikTok just months before Connie Francis' tragic passing on Wednesday, 16 July.
Her 1962 hit made a recent comeback with celebrities and avid users of the app lip-syncing the lyrics while showing off their pets and children.
Francis, 87, said it was an 'amazing feeling' to know her song was still 'touching the hearts of millions of people' before her death was announced on Thursday by her close friend, Ron Roberts, on Facebook.
'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,' he said in his post.
The 'Who's Sorry Now?' singer had been hospitalised several weeks ago due to 'extreme pain.'
With 'Pretty Little Baby' trending as a TikTok audio, Francis' legacy is already living on through younger generations.
Francis Didn't Remember Her Song Before It Went Viral
'Pretty Little Baby' wasn't one of Francis' hit songs back in her heyday. In fact, it wasn't even originally released as a single.
She became the first woman to score a No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her song 'Everybody's Somebody's Fool' in 1960 and was one of the most popular singers of the 1950s and early 60s.
Francis was shocked when 'Pretty Little Baby' went viral as a TikTok audio.
'To tell you the truth, I didn't even remember the song!' she admitted to PEOPLE in May.
'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,' she said.
By early June, her song had gained over 10 billion views and reached No. 1 on TikTok's Viral 50 and Top 50 charts.
The song's sudden popularity attracted A-list celebrities like Meghan Trainor, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and her daughter North West to make TikTok videos with it.
@meghantrainor did my own make up…u like? 💕🌸💖🌷🎀💘🩷
♬ Pretty Little Baby - Connie Francis
While not a TikTok user herself, Francis said it was 'truly awesome' to see her old song receiving so much love.
'I never thought it was possible. It's a dream come true. To think that kindergarten kids now know my name and my music? It's just thrilling!' she said.
Singer Had Been Hospitalised Earlier This Month
Francis had been in and out of hospital shortly before her death.
She shared in a Facebook post on 2 July that she had been rehospitalised due to 'extreme pain.'
'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,' she added.
Her hip treatment meant Francis had to temporarily use a wheelchair but the cause of her hospitalisation on 2 July remains unclear.
Ron Roberts promised in his Facebook post announcing her death that more details regarding her death would come soon.
Originally published on IBTimes UK
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