In search of a peaceful retreat to escape the hustle and bustle of New York, Jackie Kennedy found in Martha's Vineyard the ideal haven; where the wealthy of the city sought refuge. On this small island in the Atlantic Ocean, the former first lady acquired 140 hectares of land where she built her 600-square-meter Cape Cod-style summer retreat called Red Gate Farm.
During a summer party at the Ocean Club restaurant, John John Kennedy approached singer Carly Simon, whom he admired for the classic You're so vain (1972), to introduce her to his mother, who had just moved to the area. Carly was not just a celebrity; she had pedigree, as her father had co-founded the publishing house Simon & Schuster, one of the most powerful in the world.
Despite their 15-year age difference (Jackie was older), they forged an unbreakable friendship that lasted until Jackie's passing in 1994. Until then, what happened in their lives was not public knowledge, until in 2019 the songwriter published Touched by the Sun: My Friendship with Jackie, which became a bestseller, where she talked about her friendship with the former first lady.
Tremendously protective of her privacy, the widow of Kennedy and Onassis probably would not have been pleased with the book, as the author did not seek permission from the only surviving family member, Caroline (68).
Among the anecdotes, the author reveals that Jacqueline Bouvier (her maiden name) was less cold than she appeared. She supported this with her more playful and humorous side when she once disguised her handwriting to send a letter to her friend on behalf of Plácido Domingo. They had attended a concert together where the tenor had flirted with Carly.
The next day, she received a autographed and framed photo that said "My dear Carly, I will adore you forever" and that had not actually been sent by the tenor. The singer told all her friends about it, and when it was the former first lady's turn, she couldn't stop laughing because she confessed what she had done.
Carly Simon was specially chosen to sing at Caroline's wedding to Edwin Schlossberg in July 1986, where she performed a version of Chapel of Love and Loving You's the Right Thing to Do. She later revealed that Jackie used the same portable toilet as the band and loved to gossip like a schoolgirl about men and conquests.
They also discussed serious matters, such as her relationship with John F. Kennedy, who had been unfaithful with numerous women. Among them, the most famous was Marilyn Monroe. Regarding this, Jackie told Carly that "she understood that he had made some foolish mistakes, but she knew he loved her more, much more."
When she married Aristotle Onassis, the public considered it inappropriate and tarnishing the reputation of the presidential period. But the Greek tycoon wanted to do business with his oil tankers, and she desired his petrodollars.
According to Carly, Jackie said that Onassis was very sexy, he sang to her on his yacht, and took her to wonderful places to make love. She knew that marrying him was crazy. In a way, she never knew if she was defending her decision or if she truly loved him."
What the Oscar-winning for Best Original Song for Let the River Run, the main theme of Working Girl (1988), starring Melanie Griffith (68), Sigourney Weaver (76), and Harrison Ford (84), always had clear was that "I could be neurotic, bohemian, and a bit chaotic; she always had to be impeccable. I was the complete opposite of her. I think that amused her a lot."
Carly has recently made public that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, but for now, she wants her music career to continue. In fact, to cope with the disease and better understand her symptoms, she has composed Comes in Waves, her first work in 18 years, which will be released on August 14.