Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett might seem like an unlikely duo. The iconic crooner and the flamboyant pop star couldn’t be further apart musically. But that hasn’t stopped the two from collaborating on a pair of albums covering jazz standards. However, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s most recent collaboration, Love For Sale, will be their last duet due to the icon’s failing health.
After nearly 80 years in show business, the beloved singer is retiring from performing for health reasons. The crooner has battled Alzheimer’s since 2017 but can still function and come alive on stage.
It is nothing short of a miracle that Bennett continues to perform the majority of his catalog from memory. But with that special gift comes moments that just tug at your heartstrings.
Lady Gaga Enjoys Special Duet Moment With Tony Bennett
At Tony’s last concert, Lady Gaga had one final moment with the singer, and it’s as heartwarming as you can imagine.
“That’s the first time that Tony said my name in a long time,” the 35-year-old explained. “I had to keep it together, because we had a sold-out show, and I had a job to do. But I’ll tell you when I walked out on that stage, and he said, ‘It’s Lady Gaga,’ my friend saw me. And it was very special.”
“When that music comes on… something happens to him. He knows exactly what he’s doing. And what’s important for me, actually, just to make sure that I don’t get in the way of that,” says Lady Gaga about singing with Tony Bennett. https://t.co/e8kQNOYYrd pic.twitter.com/o5IgB0zCtO
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
It’s incredible that Tony, who can’t often remember what day is, can sing any song from his storied history at the drop of a hat. Even his neurologist is in awe of it.
“Even though he doesn’t know what the day might be or where his apartment is, he still can sing… the repertoire of the ‘American Songbook,’” says Tony Bennett’s neurologist Dr. Gayatri Devi. “[Music is] kind of like a whole-brain activator.” https://t.co/ukMoRMfdsq pic.twitter.com/A7uLiElNSC
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
Tony Bennett Comes Alive On Stage
Tony’s wife needed to remind him about her performance several times, but when he stepped on stage, the old singer was back:
On Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday he performed at Radio City Music Hall. Tony has Alzheimer’s Disease and no one knew what to expect. But, “once he saw the audience… he became himself… it was like a light switch,” says his wife, Susan. https://t.co/BUkPXm5nvA pic.twitter.com/20zcuidIE2
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
And while this might seem like a sad story, I view it as one of triumph.
Even at 95, frail and unable to remember daily tasks, Tony Bennett was able to stand in front of an audience and be himself one final time.
“It’s emotional. It’s hard to watch somebody change,” says Lady Gaga about performing with Tony Bennett, who has Alzheimer’s. “He really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing that things can change & you can still be magnificent.” https://t.co/jN5wnIVozD pic.twitter.com/cW6jHdWmPE
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
Watch The Full 60 Minutes interview with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett below:
Share your favorite Tony Bennett memories in the comment sections below.
More About:Celebrity Entertainment TellMeNow