In a surprising turn of events, Elvis Presley made a guest appearance on Frank Sinatra's show, marking a significant shift in the music industry.
Despite Sinatra's previous criticism of rock and roll as “degenerate and phony,” he couldn't ignore its growing popularity.
The show celebrated Elvis' return to the US after his military service in Germany.
Amidst filming for his new movie GI Blues, Elvis found time to join Sinatra on stage.
While they put on a friendly front for the cameras, little did the audience know what was happening behind the scenes.
Sinatra, who had once scorned rock ‘n roll, even dared to dance with Elvis during the show.
Just two years prior, he had called the genre brutal and ugly.
However, their on-stage camaraderie seemed to suggest a change of heart.
Still, Sinatra couldn't resist poking fun at Elvis, joking about his lost sideburns due to military service.
Behind closed doors, Elvis was engaged in a passionate affair with Juliet Prowse, an actress and dancer who had captured Sinatra's heart.
Although Elvis had left his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu in Germany and was officially dating Anita Wood, he couldn't resist the allure of Prowse.
The two had met the previous year while working on the musical Can-Can, and Sinatra was so smitten that he invited her to perform on his TV show as a backing singer.
Their connection grew stronger when Prowse co-starred with Elvis in GI Blues, leading to a revelation that would captivate the public.
Prowse openly admitted their affair, stating that she and Elvis were drawn to each other but kept their rendezvous confined to his room.
Shockingly, she revealed that Sinatra was aware of their relationship.
Prowse, aged 24 at the time, emphasized their maturity and dismissed the idea of teenage romance.
While her affair with Elvis intensified, Sinatra and Prowse's relationship continued, even resulting in a proposal from the legendary crooner in 1962.
However, their romance eventually fizzled out as Prowse focused on her own career aspirations.
She admitted that while she was flattered by Elvis' affection, his complex personality and difficult behavior after drinking created challenges.
Despite her dubbing in GI Blues, Prowse found success in the lead role of the musical Sweet Charity in London.
She then embarked on a thriving career as a cabaret star in Las Vegas.
As Sinatra's and Elvis' careers increasingly intertwined in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they formed a friendship along with Tom Jones, who also headlined shows in the casino city.
Years later, it was revealed that Sinatra had made a desperate plea to Elvis to change his life.
Jones and journalist Chris Hitchens recalled a conversation where Sinatra confessed to reaching out to The King during a time when he was hospitalized for liver problems caused by drug use.
Concerned for his friend's well-being, Sinatra implored Elvis to take care of himself and abandon his reckless behavior.
Tragically, just two years after this conversation, Elvis passed away at the age of 42 due to heart failure exacerbated by prolonged prescription drug misuse.
The appearance of Elvis on Sinatra's show not only marked a significant moment in music history but also unveiled a scandalous affair between Elvis and Prowse.
Their secretive relationship, known to Sinatra, added an intriguing layer to the narrative surrounding these iconic figures.
The consequences of their actions would shape their lives and legacies forever.
