Legendary American pop singer Connie Francis, widely hailed as one of the most influential female voices of the 1950s and 1960s, has died at the age of 87. Her death was confirmed by her close friend Ron Roberts, who also serves as the president of her music label Concetta Records, in a heartfelt Facebook post on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

“It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that I inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night,” Roberts wrote. “I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news.”

Just weeks before her passing, Francis had revealed she was back in the hospital undergoing tests for “extreme pain.” She later shared a positive update on Independence Day, stating she was “feeling much better,” but the situation clearly worsened.

Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey in 1937, Connie Francis’ road to fame began at the tender age of 4. Encouraged by her father, she entered talent contests, sang while playing the accordion, and eventually became a regular on NBC’s Startime Kids. Later adopting the stage name “Connie Francis,” she signed with MGM Records in 1955 — but success didn’t come easily.

“I had 18 bomb records,” Francis once recalled in a 1996 interview. “He wanted me to record a song written in 1923. I said ‘Forget about it — the kids on American Bandstand would laugh me right off the show.’”

That song was the now-iconic “Who’s Sorry Now?”, and its debut on American Bandstand in 1958 changed everything. The track became a major hit in both the United States and United Kingdom, launching her into pop superstardom and beginning a lifelong friendship with Dick Clark.

From there, Francis’ career soared. Her hits — “My Happiness”, “Lipstick on Your Collar”, and “Where the Boys Are” — dominated the charts. She made history with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”, becoming the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. She achieved two more number-one hits with “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” and “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You.”

What set Francis apart was her versatility and global appeal. She often re-recorded her songs in multiple languages, building an international fan base and ensuring her music transcended borders. Her 1959 album “Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites” remains one of her most successful projects to date.

However, her life was not without tragedy. In 1974, Francis was the victim of a violent rape in a Long Island motel, a traumatic experience that left deep emotional scars. Subsequent nasal surgery in 1977 temporarily robbed her of her voice. Then, in 1981, her brother George Franconero Jr. was murdered in a mafia-related hit.

That same year, she attempted a comeback but struggled due to ongoing mental health issues. Francis was misdiagnosed multiple times and involuntarily committed to psychiatric institutions across five states over a nine-year period.

“I was misdiagnosed as bipolar, ADD, ADHD, and a few other letters the scientific community had never heard of,” she told the Village Voice in 2011.

In response to her trauma, Francis became an advocate for mental health awareness and victims of sexual violence. She collaborated with Ronald Reagan’s task force on violent crime and partnered with Mental Health America in 2010.

Her resilience was admired globally. In a 2018 interview with The Oklahoman, she said, “I tried to see humor in everything, even when I was in a mental institution.”

In an ironic twist of fate, Connie’s 1962 track “Pretty Little Baby”, which was originally a B-side, recently went viral on TikTok — 63 years after its release. The singer, in one of her last interviews, admitted with humor that she had completely forgotten about recording the song.

“My personal life is a regret from A to Z,” Francis said in a 1984 interview, lamenting how her father’s controlling nature cost her a future with singer Bobby Darin, whom she considered the love of her life.

She was married four times — to Dick Kanellis, Izzy Marion, Joseph Garzilli, and Bob Parkinson — but none of the marriages lasted. She adopted a son, Joseph Garzilli Jr., with Garzilli in 1974, who survives her.

Connie authored two memoirs, “Who’s Sorry Now?” in 1984 and “Among My Souvenirs” in 2017, giving readers a candid look into her complicated yet inspiring life.

In her own words, Francis once said:

“I want to be remembered not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths from which I have come. I hope I did okay.”

At Daily Global Diary, we remember Connie Francis not only for her voice that spanned generations but also for her courage, advocacy, and indomitable spirit.

Also read more celebrity tributes and music legacy stories on Daily Global Diary.

The sun is shining again on Cousins Beach, but this time it’s not just the waves crashing—hearts are, too. Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty officially premieres July 16 on Amazon Prime Video, bringing fans back to the iconic shores where Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah have tangled in love, loss, and growing up.

But this isn’t just another season—it’s the final one. And fans are already holding their breath for what promises to be the most emotionally charged chapter yet.

“Her future seems set… until it isn’t.”

Lola Tung returns as Belly Conklin, now a college junior, who’s seemingly ready to embrace a summer filled with laughter, sand, and a relationship with Jeremiah, played by Gavin Casalegno. But the past, in the form of her brooding first love Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney), isn’t done with her yet.

According to the official Season 3 logline, Belly is “on the brink of adulthood” and “must decide which brother has her heart.” And if you’ve followed the rollercoaster journey through Seasons 1 and 2, you know this is no simple choice.

The romantic tension, familiar summer nostalgia, and layered character dynamics have made this show a breakout success. Based on the bestselling trilogy by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty has become a cornerstone of modern YA drama—with Belly’s coming-of-age journey striking chords with millions around the globe.

New Season, New Stakes

While Belly’s love triangle takes center stage, the series doesn’t shy away from exploring other relationships and personal growth. Viewers can expect stronger arcs for Steven (Sean Kaufman), Belly’s brother, and Taylor (Rain Spencer), her fiery best friend.

Also returning are familiar names like Jackie Chung as Belly’s mother Laurel, and past characters such as Susannah Fisher (Rachel Blanchard), Cam (David Iacono), and Aunt Julia (Kyra Sedgwick), adding emotional depth to the already tangled web of relationships.

What Time Does It Drop?

The first two episodes will be available on Wednesday, July 16 at 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET exclusively on Prime Video. After that, the series adopts a weekly drop schedule every Wednesday—building anticipation week by week:

• Episodes 1-2: July 16
• Episode 3: July 23
• Episode 4: July 30
• Episode 5: August 6
• Episode 6: August 13
• Episode 7: August 20
• Episode 8: August 27
• Episode 9: September 3
• Episode 10: September 10
• Finale (Episode 11): September 17

This season is longer than the previous ones, with 11 episodes giving more room for the story to breathe—and for viewers to agonize over who Belly finally chooses.

Where to Watch

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. If you’re not already a subscriber, memberships begin at $14.99/month or $139/year, with special rates for students and eligible assistance recipients.

Even without a Prime subscription, viewers can rent or purchase the episodes individually—a great option for those who just want to dip their toes into Cousins Beach.

Cast Highlights

Let’s face it—TSITP wouldn’t be what it is without its perfectly cast leads:

• Lola Tung as Belly
• Christopher Briney as Conrad
• Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah
• Sean Kaufman as Steven
• Rain Spencer as Taylor
• Jackie Chung as Laurel
• Rachel Blanchard as Susannah
• David Iacono, Kyra Sedgwick, Elsie Fisher, and Tom Everett Scott round out the recurring cast.

Each cast member brings a vulnerability and charm that’s been instrumental in building the show’s loyal fanbase.

Why It Matters

More than just a teen romance, The Summer I Turned Pretty is about grief, growing pains, and the uncomfortable beauty of becoming. As the characters say goodbye to adolescence and confront who they’re becoming, so too do we say goodbye to a series that captured the electricity of young love better than most.

Fans are already calling this season “the One Tree Hill of Gen Z”—and if early social media reactions are any indication, we’re in for a tear-jerking finale.

So whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, brace yourself for a summer where choices will be made, hearts will be broken, and Belly’s story comes to its stunning conclusion.

Stay tuned to Daily Global Diary for more updates, cast interviews, and episode recaps throughout the season.

The drama in Love Island USA just spilled way beyond the villa walls — and into a firestorm of social media backlash, emotional breakdowns, and now, back-to-back contestant exits.

25-year-old influencer Cierra Ortega from Los Angeles is the latest to leave the hit Peacock reality series, Season 7, under a cloud of controversy. Her departure came shortly after a 2015 Instagram video resurfaced showing her making derogatory comments about Botox and using a slur directed at Chinese people. Although the show’s narrator Iain Stirling simply said Cierra left for “personal reasons,” fans quickly connected the dots — and social media erupted.

But the story didn’t end there. In a heartfelt statement released through her official Instagram — now managed by her family — Cierra’s parents said the ordeal has been “one of the most painful weeks of our lives.” They acknowledged the wrongdoing in the resurfaced clip but urged viewers to also recognize the human cost of a rapidly intensifying online pile-on.

“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced,” they wrote.
“But what’s happening online has gone far beyond that… No one deserves that kind of hate, no matter what mistakes they’ve made.”

According to them, Cierra had no access to the outside world when the video re-emerged, and hasn’t yet had the opportunity to address it herself.

“When she returns, we believe she’ll face this with honesty, growth, and grace. Until then, we’re simply asking for compassion. For patience. For basic human decency.”

The family added that both Cierra and her relatives had received threats and cruel messages, and that the “hate campaign” against her needed to be condemned — even by those who were understandably hurt by her past words.

A pattern of exits?

This marks the second cast departure this season following a similar controversy. Only days earlier, fellow islander Yulissa Escobar also exited the show after old footage surfaced of her using a racial slur during a 2021 podcast appearance.

Yulissa, too, addressed the issue after leaving the villa, stating she had been “ignorant” of the weight and historical context behind the word.

“I used the term not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it,” she said in an emotional Instagram apology.
“Growth means recognizing when you were wrong, even if it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to move forward with humility and accountability.”

But just like Cierra, Yulissa’s return to the outside world was anything but peaceful.

“I came back to a warzone,” she admitted, referencing the death threats and harassment she received.

Racism, reality TV, and responsibility

This season of Love Island USA has unintentionally put a spotlight on a much larger cultural issue — how reality shows handle racism, especially when it involves pre-filming behavior. With contestants living in isolation during the show, they often have no idea of the storm brewing online in real-time.

While networks like Peacock have not officially commented on either exit, viewers and critics alike are now demanding that reality casting teams perform more thorough background checks — and have clearer policies for how to address racially insensitive content.

Some fans online are split. While many agree that accountability for past racist comments is essential, others argue that cancel culture has become so aggressive that it leaves no room for learning or growth.

“This isn’t about excusing racism,” wrote one Reddit user.
“But throwing death threats at a 25-year-old for something she said as a teen isn’t justice. It’s just more hate.”

Where does this leave Love Island USA?

While the show is no stranger to scandals, the dual exits of Cierra and Yulissa so early in the season have cast a shadow over what’s usually a sunny, flirtatious summer escape. Questions now loom about whether producers will address the controversy on-air or if it will be swept under the rug to preserve the show’s brand.

Regardless of what happens next, one thing is clear: the villa might be all about finding love — but in 2025, what happens outside the villa is just as powerful.