She once called him her ‘favorite person on the planet,’ so there’s no doubt Lady Gaga will be joining the rest of the world as fans mourn the death of legendary singer Tony Bennett.
The crooner, whose career spanned eight decades – including a No.1 album aged 88, died in his hometown of New York on Friday, his publicist, Sylvia Weiner, confirmed.
In the later years of his life, it was his unlikely friendship and collaboration with Gaga, 37, that endeared him to a new legion of fans, with the duo recording two albums together: 2014’s Cheek To Cheek and 2021’s Love For Sale.
The first record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to win a Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album.
Tony Bennett’s last public performance was with Lady Gaga back in 2021 as part of their New York City show, One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga
After they first met in 2011, he asked her to lend her vocals to his Duets II track, Lady Is A Tramp, which was released the same year
Their second album together was recorded over two years from 2018 to 2020 – when Bennett was already in decline after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2016.
Gaga and Bennet first met in 2011 after he heard the Poker Face singer’s rendition of Nat King Cole’s Orange Colored Sky.
He asked her to lend her vocals to his Duets II track, Lady Is A Tramp, which was released the same year.
On the first time he saw her perform, Bennett gushed to Parade in 2014: ‘I could not believe the audience’s reaction,’ later adding: ‘She’s up there with Ella Fitzgerald, who was the greatest singer in the world.’
Meanwhile Gaga recalled: ‘I walked offstage sweating, and they (my parents) said, “Mr. Tony Bennett wants to meet you.” My father got all choked up, and my mother said, “Oh, I need to fix my hair!” We all had champagne. I was so happy to meet him.’
This meeting kicked off a long-time collaboration between the pair that culminated in two albums.
In the same interview with Parade, Gaga revealed that Bennett ‘saved my life.’
The 37-year-old House Of Gucci star said she wanted to stop singing after going through a rough time in her life.
Bennett was a big fan of Gaga, saying: ‘She’s up there with Ella Fitzgerald, who was the greatest singer in the world’
The pair collaborated on their first album together, Cheek To Cheek, in 2014
This album went on to win them a Grammy. The pair are pictured here in 2015 with their awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocals
‘Tony is one of my most favorite people on the whole planet and I love him with all my heart,’ Gaga has gushed. The pair pictured in 2014
She was recovering from hip surgery and had cut ties with her longtime manager.
‘It’s heartbreaking. Six months ago I didn’t even want to sing anymore,’ Gaga said at the time.
‘The other day, Tony said, “I’ve never once in my career not wanted to do this.” It stung. Six months ago I didn’t feel that way. I tell Tony every day that he saved my life.’
In 2017, the crooner went to support the pop star on her Joanne World Tour in New York City before posting about it on social media.
‘Loved every minute of “Lady’s” show at CitiField in my hometown of Queens last night – you just get better and better!’ he wrote at the time.
Gaga’s admiration for the 96-year-old legend also continued to grow throughout their years of friendship.
Gaga and Bennett pictured in 2015 with Prince Harry. Gaga and Bennet first met in 2011 after he heard the Poker Face singer’s rendition of Nat King Cole’s Orange Colored Sky
An article published that in 2021 by AARP shed some more light on Bennett’s deteriorating condition while they were recording their last album together. The singing duo in 2015
