Nancy Sinatra Sr., first wife of legendary singer Frank Sinatra, died Friday at the age of 101, her daughter said.
“My mother passed away peacefully tonight,” her daughter, the singer also named Nancy Sinatra, tweeted Friday night.
“She was a blessing and the light of my life. Godspeed, Momma. Thank you for everything.”
Her death comes two decades after her husband’s, who died of a heart attack in 1998 at the age of 82. “Ol’ blue eyes” was one of the most influential singers in the nation, and also appeared in blockbuster films such as “From Here to Eternity” and “The Man With the Golden Arm.”
Nancy Barbato and Frank Sinatra started dating when they were teens. They married in 1939 at a church in New Jersey, and as a wedding present, he gave her a record of a song called “Our Love” that he made for her.
After their wedding, they lived in an apartment in Jersey City. Nancy Sinatra worked as a secretary while her husband tried to get his music career started as a singing waiter at a local restaurant.
The couple had three children together and Frank Sinatra shot to fame and fortune with record deals, motion pictures and extramarital affairs that made headlines in gossip magazines before their marriage ended in 1951. Video Ad Feedback
One such extramarital romance was with actress Ava Gardner, whom he married just days after signing divorce papers with Nancy. Daughter Nancy Sinatra remembered how difficult the divorce was on her mother.
“I would hear her crying quietly at night while I was going to sleep,” she has said. “She would never show it in front of us, never, but my room was next to hers and I would tiptoe out and I’d listen at the door and she’d be crying. Sometimes I would go in to her and just put my arms around her.”
As part of the divorce settlement, she got a percentage of her husband’s income, their home, custody of their children and a Cadillac.
But his second marriage did not last either. Sinatra divorced Gardner, and went on to marry Mia Farrow and then Barbara Marx.
Nancy Sinatra lived longer than her husband and their son, Frank Sinatra Jr., who died of cardiac arrest in 2016. Their son had a long musical career of his own, and died in Florida while he was on his “Sinatra Sings Sinatra” tour.
Her daughter Nancy also embarked on a singing career, famously recording “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ ” in 1966.
The elder Nancy Sinatra never remarried, and devoted her life to charity and her family, her daughter said. Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Ad Feedback
…
| Nancy Sinatra | |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1961–2013 |
| Spouses | Tommy Sands ( m. 1960; div. 1965) Hugh Lambert ( m. 1970; died 1985) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Frank Sinatra Nancy Barbato |
Nancy Sinatra has had a lengthy music career.
Between 1966 and 1972, Nancy released seven solo albums, as well as two albums with collaborator Lee Hazlewood and a Christmas album with her father and siblings. In addition to “These Boots Were Made for Walkin,” Sinatra is known for songs including “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” “Some Velvet Morning,” and the theme for the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice.
Her music career slowed down in the 1970s, and in 1995, she released a comeback album, One More Time. After that, she continued to regularly put out music. Her most recent album was 2013s Shifting Gears, and in 2021 a new compilation album was released titled Start Walkin 1965–1976.
Nancy had a short-lived acting career in the 1960s. Her first movie role was in 1964s For Those Who Think Young. In 1965, she appeared with Frank in Marriage on the Rocks. Her last movie was 1968s Speedway, which starred Elvis Presley. More recently, in 2007, Nancy appeared in the final season of The Sopranos in a cameo as herself.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
RELATED: For more celebrity news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
She released two books about her dad.
In 1985, Nancy published the book Frank Sinatra, My Father. Then, in 1995, she wrote a second book, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend. Nancy also carried on Franks legacy by hosting a Sirius XM show on the Siriusly Sinatra station called Nancy for Frank. In March 2021, she shared on Twitter that the show was ending after 14 years.
The singer had been surprised at the claim that Farrow made and thought it was ridiculous. Expressing her opinion about the possibility of her father being the biological father of Farrows son, Nancy said:
Ronan, whose legal father is the famous film director, Woody Allen, was also a big part of their lives. Frank Sr. and Mia had separated in 1968, twenty years before Ronan was born and also the same year she starred alongside Elvis Presley in the Musical comedy, “Speedway.” Read also
Michael also responded to Nancys post in tribute of the actor, reminiscing on old times and the night on which the photo Nancy shared was taken, calling it an extraordinary night.
Rich Lawyer Mocks Poor Restaurant Cleaner, Looks Closer at Her Face & Realizes She’s His Copy — Story of the Day
Sinatra started her career in music when Reprise Records signed her, and her music began to attain fame in Europe and Japan. She didnt have much of a fanbase in the U.S until 1966 when she hit No.1 with her iconic single, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin.”
FAQ
How old is Nancy Sinatra today?
Are there any Sinatra alive?
After that, she continued to regularly put out music. Her most recent album was 2013’s Shifting Gears, and in 2021 a new compilation album was released titled Start Walkin’ 1965–1976.
What is Nancy Sinatra doing now?
After that, she continued to regularly put out music. Her most recent album was 2013’s Shifting Gears, and in 2021 a new compilation album was released titled Start Walkin’ 1965–1976.
