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TL;DR:

  • Madonna had several idols growing up.
  • Frank Sinatra’s daughter made a song that really resonated with Madonna.
  • The song became an international hit.
Frank Sinatra kissing his daughter, Nancy Sinatra, near some bottles
Frank Sinatra kissing his daughter, Nancy Sinatra | Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

During the 1980s, Madonna discussed some of her idols. She revealed why she connected with nuns, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra. Madonna connected with a lyric from one of Nancy’s songs. 

Why Madonna liked nuns and Marilyn Monroe

In a 1985 article in Time magazine, the Queen of Pop discussed some of her idols. Some of her idols were nuns. “Growing up I thought nuns were very beautiful,” she recalled. “For several years I wanted to be a nun, and I got very close to some of them in grade school and junior high.”

Some stars fascinated Madonna. “I also loved Carole Lombard and Judy Holliday and Marilyn Monroe,” Madonna revealed. “They were all just incredibly funny, they were silly and sweet, and they were girls and they were feminine and sexy. I just saw myself in then, my funniness and my need to boss people around and at the same time be taken care of. My girlishness. My knowingness and my innocence. Both.”

Madonna wanted to live out a song by Frank Sinatra’s daughter

Nancy was also one of Madonna’s idols. “I remember Nancy Sinatra singing ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” she said. “And that made one hell of an impression on me.”

Madonna revealed one line of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” really resonated with her. “And when she said ‘Are you ready boots? Start walkin’,’ it was like, ‘Yeah, give me some of those go-go boots. I want to walk on a few people,'” Madonna said.

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The way the world reacted to Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin”

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” became a hit. According to The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a week. Nancy said the song helped take her out of her father’s shadow.

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” became even more popular in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the track reached No. 1 for four weeks. The track stayed on the chart for 14 weeks altogether. Nancy released the song on her album Boots, which peaked at No. 12 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for nine weeks. 

“These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” had an impact on pop culture outside of its time on the charts. Nancy’s version of the track appeared in films such as Full Metal Jacket and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Subsequently, artists such as Jessica Simpson, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Megadeth covered the song.

“These Boots Were Made for Walkin'” was a huge hit and it made an impression on the Queen of Pop.

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