Connie Francis Embraces TikTok as Vintage Track ‘Pretty Little Baby’ Gains Viral Fame

Sixty-four years ago, Connie Francis recorded “Pretty Little Baby” during an intense studio session that produced three albums in just two weeks. At the time, the song was considered unlikely to become a hit and was released as the B-side to the 1962 single “I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter” in the UK, remaining largely unnoticed for decades.

The rise of TikTok, known for breathing new life into forgotten songs, has dramatically changed the trajectory of “Pretty Little Baby.”

In recent weeks, the track has exploded in popularity on the platform, serving as the soundtrack to more than 600,000 TikTok videos. It has also climbed to top positions on Spotify’s Viral 50 charts globally and in the U.S., fueled by celebrities and influencers such as Nara Smith, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and her daughter North, who have shared videos lip-syncing to the tune.

Notable admirers have joined the trend as well. Agnetha Fältskog, lead singer of ABBA, shared a TikTok clip praising Francis as her longtime favorite artist. Meanwhile, Broadway actress Gracie Lawrence, currently portraying Francis in the play “Just in Time” — centered on Bobby Darin, Francis’s former partner — posted a video lip-syncing to the song, dressed in period costume.

This resurgence adds a surprising chapter to Francis’s celebrated career. In 1960, she became the first female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, selling 42 million records by age 26 and securing multiple chart-topping singles. Despite recording “Pretty Little Baby” in seven languages, the song remained obscure enough that Francis, now 87, once admitted she had forgotten ever recording it.

Amid the renewed attention, Francis is exploring ways to capitalize on the viral success. Together with her publicist’s family, she has launched a TikTok account and is considering a return to performing, possibly staging a show in the near future.