Elvis Presley’s fear of Frank Sinatra ended a steamy relationship

Elvis Presley had secret romances with a massive amount of women throughout his career. And once he started regularly making movies in Hollywood, his affairs with actresses became infamous.

Eventually, he started seeing Nancy Sinatra, the daughter of the iconic singer Frank Sinatra.

The My Way singer – who died 25 years ago this week on May 14 – was a powerful figure in the music industry, but he was also a loose cannon.

Frank was involved with the mafia as he spent a lot of time at casinos and playing music in large, lavish hotels.

But just as things between Elvis and Nancy began hotting up, the King began to reconsider his actions.

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Elvis’ complicated relationship with Nancy was detailed in the Gary Lindberg book “Letters From Elvis”. In the tome, private letters from Elvis to his spiritual advisor, Carmen Montez, were published.

Gary revealed: “Elvis was increasingly fearful of the heavy-handed tactics of Frank Sinatra and his mob connections. In a letter, he told Montez that he didn’t want any dalliance with Nancy because toying with Frank’s daughter seemed like playing with fire.”

Despite the fact he tried to break things off with Nancy, she insisted on seeing him and even surprised him with her appearance at some unexpected locations.

When Elvis’ service in the US Army came to an end, Nancy was on the runway when he touched down back in the USA.

In front of countless photographers and members of the press, Nancy presented Elvis with some linen shirts while purring: “These are from my father.”

Elvis later confided in Carmen he “regretted” his choice of “playmate” in Nancy, adding that he believed she was “particularly dangerous”.

But, his hands were tied. He had started something he couldn’t bring to an end quickly.

Elvis was “afraid of making enemies,” Carmen revealed. “Especially ones in the Mafia.”

Nancy remained a huge part of Elvis’ life, whether he wanted her to or not. They worked together in the 1968 movie Speedway. And she even threw a baby shower for his wife, Priscilla Presley. She was involved in many aspects of his life.

Priscilla also admitted in her memoir – Elvis and Me – that she was extremely jealous of Nancy. “I became more and more resigned to the fact that Elvis was dating Nancy Sinatra and had completely forgotten about me,” she confessed.

Although Elvis was petrified of Frank Sinatra, Sonny West (a member of Elvis’ Memphis Mafia) surmised that Frank was simply jealous of Elvis.

Sonny said: “I’ve always felt Ol’ Blue Eyes was just a little jealous of Elvis because he dared to steal the mantle of teen idol and usurp Sinatra’s popularity. While Sinatra was the idol of millions of bobby-soxers in the 1940s, Elvis became the gold standard by which every entertainer was measured.” (sic)