Hidden Facts About Nancy Sinatra, An Overlooked Superstar

Judging by her iconic look and most popular song, it’s easy to peg Nancy Sinatra as just another provocative pinup girl. But the mostly untold truths of her real life paint a much more complicated picture.


1. She Didn’t Have It All

Being Frank Sinatra’s daughter didn’t mean much when Nancy Sinatra entered the world in 1940. The oldest of three children, her family didn’t have much wealth to speak of until her father’s music career hit its stride later in that decade. It meant more money for the family, but as they say, all that glitters is not gold. 

Portrait of Nancy Sinatra.
James Vaughan, Flickr

2. They Kept Eyes On Her

Once her father hit stardom, Sinatra’s life changed forever. Her attachment to fame made her quite the sight to see. Fans and reporters alike wanted insider details so badly that they often lurked around her family home. This eventually incited a move to LA, and likely played a role in her father’s odd hopes for her future. 

Nancy Sinatra sheet music - the song written for her. - mid 1940s

John Irving, Flickr

3. He Didn’t Want A Daddy’s Girl

A lover of the performing arts, Sinatra took several classes during her youth, including lessons in voice and dance. That didn’t earn her father’s approval, though. In fact, he suggested she stay out of the music business, knowing critics would compare her work to his. She didn’t listen to him. 

Publicity photo of Nancy Sinatra.- circa 1960

Reprise Records, Wikimedia Commons

4. She Bucked Tradition

All fame aside, Sinatra grew up in a very conservative family. She spent time in the Young Women's Christian Association in high school, and attended UCLA in the 1950s. She studied music, but it didn’t prove to be enough to keep her on the straight and narrow. She dropped out in one year, and set out on a sparkly new path.

Portrait of Nancy Sinatra - 1960s

Johan Oomen, Flickr