Keeping Up with Nancy Sinatra

So what was it like to be the daughter of famed crooner Frank Sinatra?  Here's what his daughter, Nancy, told The Guardian in 2008: "He wasn't quite on the map when I was a baby.  He was on the road all the time with the band.  We were living in a flat in New Jersey when I was born. They didn't have any money.  But once he hit, he really hit.  Later, we move to Hasbrouck Heights (New Jersey) and had a lovely little house there, but you could get to the windows from the street there, they would come to get a glimpse, which worried my mother because I was a tiny little toddler, and she didn't want anybody stealing me the the front yard." 

Nancy Sandra Sinatra was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on June 8, 1940.  She the eldest of the three children of singer/actor Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) and his first wife Nancy Barbato Sinatra (1917-2018).  Her brother, singer Frank Sinatra Jr., was born in 1944 and died in 2016.  The youngest Sinatra, sibling, Tina, was born in 1948.  Tina is a businesswoman, producer, actress and singer. 

Below is a portrait of the Sinatra family in 1949.

The family eventually moved to Toluca Lake, California to accommodate Frank's Hollywood career.  From the age of six, Nancy studied music. She spent many years learning  piano, dance and drama, as well as undertaking voice lessons.  In June of 1958, she graduated from University High School in Los Angeles. She  studied music, dancing and voice at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCL A), but dropped out after one year.

Sinatra's affair with Ava Gardner led to the divorce of Nancy's parents in 1951.  Nancy Barbato Sinatra never remarried.  She died in 2018 at the age of 101.

Nancy launched her career as a singer in 1957, when she appeared on her father's ABC television series, The Frank Sinatra Show. At first she only received popularity in Europe and Japan.  However, in early 1966, she enjoyed a transatlantic number one hit with what was to become her signature song, "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'."  The song was a refection of the Swinging Sixties, the age of go-go girls in high boats.  It was written by Lee Hazelwood, who wrote and produced most of her hit songs.  Hazelwood also joined her in several duets.  Nancy and Lee collaborated on such hits such as"Sugar Town" (1966), "Jackson" (1967), "Summer Wine" (1967) and "Some Velvet Morning".(1967).  

Nancy and Lee

In 1967, Nancy had a hit song with her father.  The song was "Somethin' Stupid," written by American singer/songwriter Carson Parks.  Parks had recorded it with his wife, Gaile Foote.  However, their version was not released as a single.  It was Frank Sinatra who thought the song would be great for his daughter to record.  He took the song to Lee Hazelwood.  According to Hazelwood, "Frank called me to his office and told me he had found the song, but Nancy wouldn't work with any producer but me.  He played me the demo of "Somethin' Stupid" and said 'Do you like it?'  I said ' love it, and if you don't do it with Nancy, I will.  He said, "We're gonna do it.  Book a studio.'"

The 1967 Sinatra version of "Somethin' Stupid" became a major international hit.  It reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.  It was the first and only time a father-duet had a number one song in America.  Nancy was quoted as remarking sarcastically, "Some people call {"Somethin' Stupid"}, the Incest Song, which I think is, well, very sweet.

In 2001,a  cover version of "Somethin' Stupid" by British vocalist Robbie Williams and Australian actor Nicole Kidman was released.  It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.  However, the Sinatra version remains the most successful.

Below is a photo of Lee and Nancy at the Hollywood Palace in 1968.

Between 1964 and 1968, Nancy appeared on screen in feature films.  She co-starred with Peter Fonda in Roger Corman's 1966 biker gang movie The Wild Angels.  She also starred alongside Elvis Presley in the 1968 musical drama Speedway.  Nancy and Frank portrayed a fictional father and daughter in the 1965 comedy Marriage on the Rocks.

Nancy Sinatra has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump.  In 2017, after learning that her father's classic :"My Way" might be played at Trump's inauguration, she wrote on Twitter, "Just remember the first line 

of the song."  (The song begins with the lyric: "And now, the end is near"}.

In December of 2025, a MAGA supporter commented on social media that Frank would have loved Trump.  Nancy retorted. "Do some homework before you make a fool of yourself.  My dad LOATHED Trump."  Reacting to a video purporting to show ICE officer harassing Latinos, Nancy wrote on X. "This is not my father's America.  He would be devastated.  Trump is so wrong in so many ways."

Nancy Sinatra has been married twice.  On September 11, 1960, Nancy married singer/actor and teen  idol Tommy Sands.  Nancy regrets the marriage.  In her 2008 interview with the Guardian, she said,  "I wanted to continue my classical education in college, but instead I  got married like a fool."  The couple divorced in 1965.  Below is a photo of Nancy with Tommy Sands on the set of The Longest Day in 1962.

On December 12, 1970, Nancy wed Hugh Lambert, a producer, dancer and choreographer.  The couple wed in Cathedral City, California.  They had two daughters.  Angela Jennifer "AJ" Lambert was born on May 22, 1974.  Her younger sister, Amanda Kate Lambert, was born on March 17, 1976.  Hugh Lambert died of cancer on August 18,1985.  He was 55 at the time of his death.

Hugh and Nancy

More recent photo of Nancy

END NOTES

* On August 4, 2007, Lee Hazelwood died of renal cancer in Henderson, Nevada.  He was 78 years old at the time of his passing.

* On March 16, 2016, Frank Sinatra Jr. passed away suddenly of cardiac arrect at the age of 72.  He had been on tour in Daytona Beach, Florida.  In 1963, 18-year-old Frank Jr. was kidnapped from a Lake Tahoe casino.  He was released two days later after his father paid a $250,000 ransom.

* Nancy played Cary in a 1963 episode of The Virginian.  She also portrayed secretary Jill Stacy in a 1963 episode of Burke's Law.

* Nancy made three guest appearances on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, (two in 1969 and one in 1970).

*In 2007, Nancy appeared as herself in an episode of The Sopranos.

* Nancy was the first American singer to perform the title song for a James Bond film - "You Only Live Twice" (1967).  That same year she performed "Somethin' Stupid" with her brother, Frank Jr., on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

* Nancy became a grandmother for the first time when her daughter AJ. gave birth to a daughter, Miranda Vega.

* On May 11, 2006, Nancy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording.

SOURCES: American Songwriter, "On This Day in 1967, Frank and Nancy Sinatra Made Father-Daughter Chart History With a Song That Nicole Kidman Took to No. 1 Decades Later," by Clayton Edwards, April 13, 2026; The Guardian, "'I wish I'd been a bad girl," by John Patterson, June 2, 2008; Independent, "Frank Sinatra 'loathed' Trump, singer's daughter Nancy tells MAGA supporter," by Tom Murray, December 7, 2025; IMDb. Wikipedia

- Joanne

Monday Night Hockey streaming is a rip off

 

Hey Toronto Maple Leaf fans, you are getting ripped off by Rogers Communications.  Sportsnet has just made the Leafs more expensive for viewers.  That's right.  Monday Night Hockey will be shown exclusively on Sportsnet+.  That means that 23 per cent of Toronto's games will only be available with streaming services.  It's nothing more than a cash grab.  Many fans can't afford to go to a Leaf game anymore.  They are struggling to put food on the table.  Now they are even being deprived of watching a Monday night Leaf game on TV..  They can't watch without paying more for streaming.  Keep in mind that the Leafs are a team that hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1967.  They had a miserable 2025 season and didn't even make the playoffs.

Leaf fans deserve much better.  There's no way I will be paying for streaming on Sportsnet+ and I'd advise other fans to do the same. Don't be a sucker.  Fans deserve more respect.  All Rogers wants is our money.  They don't appreciate us.  They are not treating us well.  I'd take Hockey Night in Canada any day, if it were still possible.  I know where I stand.  I will always be on the side of the fans.  They are the lifeblood of sports.  They should not be taken for granted.

- Joanne

Autumn Reading

Want to cozy up with a good book this fall.  May I suggest my latest novel The Roving Reporter: Spanning the Globe in the 1990s.  

Why not curl up o with a good book,  or if you prefer, read it in ebook form.  Check out my author's page by clicking on the link below.

Joanne Madden – Author

Are you looking for some mysteries, thrills and suspense?  Then read The Roving Reporter: Spanning the Globe in the 1990s, and follow the adventures of Sandra McKay, the intrepid reporter from Prince Edward Island.  In the first “Reporter” novel, The Missing Reporter, which takes place in 1989, Sandra is kidnapped while working as a crime reporter for the CBC.  

The Roving Reporter is the second installment of my “Reporter Trilogy” featuring the spunky Maritime journalist.  The Riving Reporter covers the years 1990 to 1997, when Sandra becomes a foreign correspondent at the London bureau of the Canadian Press.  She covers major stories in Britain, France, Italy, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Egypt, Mexico and South Africa, while being pursued by the mob  She is accompanied by Colin Purcell, a crusty English photographer.

I am currently working on The Return of the Reporter, the third and final novel of the series.  In The Return of the Reporter, Sandra returns to Canada and works as an investigative journalist at the Toronto Star.  The novel will focus on the time period leading up to the Millennium and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  It should be noted that all of the “Reporter” novels stand on their own.  However, it is advisable to read the complete series in sequence so that you will have a better understanding of the characters and circumstances.

NOTE:  I am pleased to announce that The Roving Reporter will be the Book of the Day on November 21, 2026. on the Online Book Club website Online Book Club for Readers

It will be available at a better price on that selected day.

Here is the five star review of The Roving Reporter from the Online Book Club.

The Roving Reporter by Joanne Madden is a book about a woman trying to chase big stories. It follows Sandra McKay, a journalist from Prince Edward Island, and her life.

Sandra is a Canadian journalist. She takes a job as a foreign correspondent for The Canadian Press. This work takes her to different parts of the world. She reports on major events and news. Along the way, she balances her career with her marriage, family, and personal relationships. She also gets in contact with Colin Purcell. He is a talented but controversial photographer. His approach to journalism is very different from hers. As Sandra travels from one assignment to another, she experiences the excitement and difficult side of being an international reporter.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I like that it was not only about Sandra’s work. It also shows the effect her career has on her life. She travels to different countries, but she still deals with issues, such as loss and family problems. This comes with the job. Sandra was my favorite character. I connected with her. She takes work seriously and does what she believes is right. I had mixed feelings about Colin Purcell. His attitude and the way he works with paparazzi made me struggle to like him sometimes. I love Dennis and Marcel’s story. Marcel experienced a lot for someone as young as he is.

I like that the book covers historical events. I found that interesting. I also like the writing. A lot happens in the book, and the story goes through different places and events. I like how everything came together.

This is an intriguing story about journalism, family, travel, and loss. I had absolutely nothing to dislike. It is well-written. I encountered a few errors while reading, but the overall editing was commendable. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars for these reasons. I recommend it to readers who enjoy books on journalism and the 1990s.

Thank you to all you readers for your support.

- Joanne

Blue Jays will have to wail 'til next year

The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers yesterday by a score of 7-2.  Yes, they won, but it was a hollow victory.  It was far too little, and much too late.  The Blue Jays have not been mathematically eliminated yet, but it's just a matter of time.  For all intents and purposes, the 2026 season is mercifully over for the for the team.  Despite last night's win, there was some bad news.  The team suffered two additional injures in a season riddled with injures.  Vladdy and Dylan Cease are both injured.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  hasn't been himself for most of the season.  Vladdy probably would have played better if he had stayed on the Injured List (IL) for a while. It's hard to believe he's only hit one homer at home this year.  That one home run saved him from the ignominy of not hitting a dinger at the dome in 2026.  Sometimes players do no service to the team when they play injured. This is definitely a season in Vladdy's career that he'll want to forget.

Despite the overall disappointing season, there have been some bright spots,  Kazuma Okamoto has hit over 30 homers this season.  Unfortunately, no other Blue Jay has hit close to that many home runs.  Lous Varland established himself as one of the best closers in MLB this season.  He has a great career ahead of him if he continues to pitch so well.  24-year-old rookie outfielder Brett Bateman has shown a lot of promise and will probably be the Jays' leadoff batter going into next season.  Another promising young Jay is second baseman Charles McAdoo, also 24.  Infielder and left fielder Josh Smith, 29, is another play who could contribute greatly next season as a power hitter.

Brett Bateman

Charles McAdoo

Josh Smith

As for manager John Schneider, I hope he doesn't appear in so many Rogers commercials next season.  I also wish he wouldn't spit so much.  It's so crude and undignified for a manager.  By the way, I can't imagine Cito Gason in a commercial for Rogers.  As for Vladdy, isn't it about time he stopped dousing his teammates with Gatorade.  It's getting tiresome. However, I do like the home run jacket.

I hope that there isn't a lockout over the proposed salary cap.  I wish the owners and players would consider the fans more than they do.  Fans are the lifeblood of sports.  Yet, their welfare is often overshadowed by greed.  A perfect example is the number of games being streamed on Apple TV.

- Joanne

Thank you to Sally Field for standing up for Canada

On Monday night, two-time Oscar winner Sally Field added another award to her collection.  She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Anthology Series or Movie for Remarkably Bright Creatures.  At 79, Sally was the oldest actor in her category.  In her acceptance speech, she thanked Canada, saying "Blessed Canada.  Our neighbours, our friends."  The audience cheered this great actor as she expressed her support for Canada.  "Our voices matter, our diversity, our unique storytelling matters.  We can't let those voices be silenced or compromised or merged," she continued, taking a swipe at the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger.

It must be noted that Remarkably Bright Creatures was filmed in British Columbia.  Thank you, Sally, for standing up for Canada.  I know that many Americans are disgusted with the way Donald Trump has been treating Canada.  They are repulsed by his bullying.  Therefore, I urge Americans to let your voices be heard in broad support of your northern neighbour.  Unfortunately, Trump has severely damaged the relationship between the two countries,  He is a one-man wrecking crew.  Do not allow  him to completely destroy a wonderful and mutually beneficial friendship. That would be a terrible tragedy.

Thank you, Sally Field!

- Joanne

  

A message to Americans

Jean Chretien, former prime minister of Canada, spoke in Gander, Newfoundland yesterday during an emotional tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  The 92-year-old brought the house down in a fiery speech interrupted by standing ovations.

Chretien was prime minister when the attacks occurred 25 years ago on September 11, 2001.  The ex-PM talked about how Canada showed solidarity and kindness to Americans in their time of need.  He recounted the hospitality that the people of Gander showed to stranded air travellers, most of them American.  He also spoke with pride about the Canadian government's sponsorship of the motion to invoke the NATO alliance's mutual defence clause. "Our closest friend was attacked.  We said that was an attack on us too, and we fought back side by side."

The 20th prime minister of Canada was blunt and honest.  He pulled no punches.  "I am just a former prime minister, 92 years old, and a very proud Canadian, but I have seen a few things in my lifetime, and I know this country and the people from coast to coast to coast.  I have a message for our American friends.

Yes, Canada is a generous, open country, and Canadians are tolerant and kind.  But never mistake our generosity for weakness..  Never, never mistake our tolerance for lack of determination, and never, never mistake our kindness for softness.

We know who we are, and we are  proud of it.  Building a country like this, with this climate and this geography, is a sign of toughness, not of weakness.

Welcoming people from all over the world, caring for each other, including the weakest in society, is a sign of strength.

We embrace our friends and we help them in their moment of need, but we bow to no one.  The more we are threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves, and stand united.  

Friends need to be honest with each other, just as the people of Gander, and anywhere else in Newfoundland and Labrador, they will give you the shirt off their backs, like they did 25 years ago.  But they will always show you the respect of telling you the truth.  So, my friends, here is to truth, to respect, to friendship, and to good neighbours.

Long live the United States and long live Canada!" he declared, ending his speech in French.

I ask you, have you ever heard Donald Trump speak about kindness and welcoming people from all over the world?

- Joanne

Latest con from the world's greatest con artist

Donald Trump has promised to issue $5,000 dividends to every adult American if the Republicans maintain control of Congress in November.  If you believe that, then maybe someone will sell you some swamp land in Florida.  Based on Trump's track record, it isn't going to happen.  Remember how he vowed  to push for $2,000 tariff dividend payments.  Do you know anyone who received such a payment?  No, because it never happened.  

Trump announced his latest con in Dallas, Texas, while while addressing the Republican Party's first-ever midterm gathering.  It's simply a bribe to voters, nothing more. Not only that, but it is illegal.  It violates a federal statute which makes it a crime to offer money to any person to vote or withhold a vote  According to Cornell Law School, an intentional violation of this statute results in two years in prison and a fine.  But Trump doesn't have to worry about that.  He considers himself above the law.

Trump just keeps on lying, but the majority of American people know the truth.  They face the consequences of his economic polies and his tariffs every time they go to the grocery store  It's right in front of them..  Every time they fill up at the gas pump, they pay the cost of his illegal, disastrous and never-ending war with Iran. This is not, as Trump claims, a golden age for America.  It's an unmitigated disaster.  People are suffering because the cost of living is so high.  But does Trump care?  No!  He's more concerned about his golfing and his vanity projects, such as the ballroom that most Americans don't care about.  They are more concerned with putting food on the table and paying for health care. Meanwhile, Trump's cronies, mostly big oil and big tech billionaires, enrich themselves with tax breaks.

The Republicans must be really concerned about how they will fare in the midterm elections in November.  That's why Trump is resorting to bribery and chicanery.  However, the midterms should be a referendum on his disastrous leadership.  America should send the Trump regime an unequivocal message.  Thumbs down!  You can't fool us any longer.

- Joanne  

Why does Trump gets along well with Putin's Russia, but not Canada?

Vladimir Putin served in the KGB for 15 years as a foreign intelligence and security officer.  He is a murderous dictator and a war criminal.  His invasion of Ukraine has caused much death and destruction.  In sum, he is not a nice man. He is cruel and ruthless, exactly the qualities expected in a former KGB man.  Yet, Donald Trump gets along better with this war criminal than with Canadian leaders.  Trump makes no secret of his contempt for benign, democratic Canada.  He and his cronies constantly belittle and bully America's northern neighbour.  He tries to punish Canada economically with tariffs that are a tax on consumers in the United States.  He continually attempts to undermine Canada's sovereignty.  

Trump treats Putin much differently.  He rarely criticizes the Russian leader and treats him like a good friend.  He wants his pal Vladdy to attend the 2026 G20 leaders' summit scheduled to take place December 14-15 in Doral Florida, at the Trump National Doral Miami resort.  Where else?  Of course, Trump has said he'd like Putin to attend. this gathering of heads of states and governments.  Russia is still a member of the G20.  However, Putin has not been welcomed at a G-20 leaders' summit since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022  

On August 31, 2026, Russia representatives participated in a G20 summit in North Carolina.  Russia's finance minister, Anton Siluanov, as well as representatives of the Russian Central Bank, attended at the invitation of Donald Trump.  According to The New York Times, Siluanov's invitation and attendance were not announced prior to the meeting. German vice-chancellor and finance minister Lars Klingbeil demanded that Russia end the war in Ukraine. "I find the signal sent by receiving the Russian finance minister here quite troubling,  In a statement to reporters, Klingbeil said, "I would have wanted greater clarity from the American side that he should not be received here as a normal guest."

Donald Trump defends Putin at every opportunity.  The two men are cut from the same cloth.  They are both heartless and they both consider themselves to be alpha males.  Furthermore, Trump admires dictators such as Putin and Kim Jong Il of North Korea.  It is also highly probable that Russia is holding something over Trump's head, that Putin is aware of some deep, dark secret that the American commander-in-sleaze is desperate to keep hidden.  In addition, the Putin-influenced Deutcshe Bank lent Trump an enormous amount of money after his casinos went bankrupt.  

Back in January of 2017, Buzz Feed News, revealed the existence of the Steele dossier, also known ad the Trump-Russia dossier, which alleges a connection between Trump cohorts and Russia.  Trump lied, of course, and denied that he had any financial connections to Russia.

It is not surprising that Trump has said the Putin is "not looking to attack NATO territory," even though there was a drone strike attempt at an airport for which allies, such as the UK, claimed Russian responsibility.  He is indebted to Russia.

I am delighted that Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is prepared to tell Vladimir Putin "to get our of Ukraine" if Putin decides to accept Trump's invitation to the Florida G20 summit.  "He only understands strength and directness, Carney stated when asked about Putin at a press conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  I really hope that the PM follows through with that.  It is reminiscent of when Ronald Reagan told Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.  I would be greatly pleased to read a headline that read "Canadian prime minister tells Putin to get out of Ukraine."

- Joanne

A toast to Louis Varland

Louis Varland is having a stellar season.  Lights Out Louis recorded his 32nd save of 2026 yesterday as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 6-3.  The Blue Jays' closer has a sparkling ERA of 1.16, the lowest among all Major League relievers this year.  He could arguably become the team's best closer since Tom "The Terminator" Henke.  This is only Louis' first season as a closer, so in order to rank up there with Henke, he will have to prove himself in the years to come.  He will have to continue his dominance and show that this season is not an aberration, that he is the real deal.  

Louis Dennis Varland was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on December 9, 1997, and was named after his uncle.  He played college baseball at the Concordia University, Sant Paul, and was selected by his hometown Minnesota Twins in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.  On July 31, 2025, the Twins sent Varland and Ty France to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Alan Roden  and Kendry Rojas.  Many Minnesota fans were unhappy about the trade because Louis was a popular and affordable hometown player.

Louis was used as a reliever by the Blue Jays in 2025 because Jeff Hoffman was considered the team's closer.  During the 2025 playoffs, Louis appeared in 15 games in relief, setting a new MLB postseason record by a pitcher.  In the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Jays were defeated in the 11th inning of the seventh game by a score of 5-4.  Unfortunately for the Bluebirds, Hoffman had allowed a game-tying home run by Miguel Rohas in the nineth inning.  

It's a moot point and it's hypothetical, but I still can't help but wonder what would have happened if Louis had pitched that 9th inning instead of Jeff Hoffman.  The Jays likely would have won the World Series.  But it was not to be.  They lost to L.A. in a heartbreaking fashion.  Louis did not begin closing games until April of 2026, due to Hoffman's inconsistency.  

Louis married his wife Madeline "Mattie" Varland in the 2024 offseason.  Maddie is a dentist.  According Louis' official MLB biography,. Maddie's father played for the Montreal Canadiens.  I found that interesting.  However, I couldn't find any further details online.  I don't know his name and I don't know whether he played in the National Hockey League or for an affiliate in the Canadiens' system.  

Lous' brother, Gus Varland. is also a pitcher in the major leagues.  Gus plays for the Washington Nationals.

- Joanne