Neil Sedaka, 'Calendar Girl' and 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do' singer, dies at 86

Raechal ShewfeltFri, February 27, 2026 at 10:24 PM UTC

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Neil Sedaka pictured in 1976Credit: George Wilkes/Hulton Archive/Getty

Neil Sedaka, the prolific singer and songwriter whose works were recorded by stars including Carole King, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Cher, has died at 86.

A representative confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly on Friday and provided a statement from Sedaka's loved ones.

"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," the statement said. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed."

Neil Sedaka performs in 1978Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sedaka learned to play music as a child and attended Juliard School of Music. He was 13 when he began a decades-long partnership with friend Howard Greenfield, who was a lyricist. The two began to hit up music companies, and by 1958 they had their first hit, "Stupid Cupid," as recorded by Connie Francis.

Sedaka was, of course, a singer himself, and he signed to be the one behind the microphone at RCA in 1959, per his official bio from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Beginning that year, Sedaka was second to Elvis Presley in terms of records sold for five years, selling a staggering 40 million records.

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His biggest early hits included classic songs such as "Calendar Girl" and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do."

He had another smash in 1975 when a song he had co-written, "Love Will Keep Us Together," was made famous by Captain & Tennille. He and Elton John also collaborated on the track "Bad Blood."

Sedaka was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fam and nominated for five Grammys over the years. Fans have lamented for years that he hasn't been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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