Rock History Music video / Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 / On the morning of Friday, 27, 2026, legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka was hospitalized in Los Angeles after experiencing an undisclosed medical emergency, and died later the same day, at the age of 86.
Sedaka's most popular and signature song is often considered "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" (1962 - #1 US; #7 UK). Other key Sedaka hits: "Calendar Girl" (1961 - #4 US; #8 UK), "Laughter in the Rain (1974 - #1 US; #15 UK), "Bad Blood" (1975 - #1 US), "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (slow ballad version) (1975 - #8 US).
Harry Enten, a CNN senior politics writer and data analyst, is the nephew of legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka.