Nancy Sinatra Sr, first wife of crooning legend Frank, dies aged 101

Nancy Sinatra Sr – the first wife of crooning legend Frank Sinatra – has died at the age of 101.

The mother of Sinatra’s three children and first of his four wives passed away on Thursday. The news was confirmed by her daughter, Nancy Sinatra Jr.

A post on her webpage read: “She was a blessing and the light of my life.”

Sinatra, née Barbato, married Frank on 4 February 1939 having dated as teenagers ahead of a career that would see him become one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century. The couple would later relocate from New Jersey to Los Angeles as the multi-talented Sinatra’s notoriety grew within the industry.

Nancy divorced him in 1950 after his womanising habits revealed an affair with Ava Gardner whom he went on to both marry and divorce. She raised their three children, Nancy Jr, Tina and Frank Jr, the latter of whom died in 2016. Her ex-husband passed away in 1998.

Barbato, who never remarried, became widely known as Nancy Sinatra Sr after her daughter found fame as a singer of hit songs, including “These Boots Are Made For Walking”.

Sinatra is quoted as having regretted his marriage to Nancy, stating: “What I had mistaken for love was only the warm friendship Nancy had brought me.” The two are said to have remained friends with journalist and novelist Gay Talese writing in 1966: “There is no bitterness, only great respect and affection between Sinatra and his first wife.”