July 31, 2023
Lady Gaga Headed Back to Las Vegas as She Pays Tribute to Tony Bennett
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Lady Gaga has finally broke her silence and addressed the death of her iconic duet partner Tony Bennett.
As reported by People, Gaga paid homage to Bennett on Monday in a moving Instagram in which she proclaimed that she will "miss my friend forever."
"I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together," said Gaga about Bennett, who died at 96 on July 21.
"With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power," she said. "We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo. But it wasn't an act. Our relationship was very real."
Real indeed. Bennett joined Gaga many times during her Las Vegas residency, and after paying tribute to her friend, Gaga also announced that she is going back to Las Vegas for more "jazz & piano" in the fall.
"Gaga performed with Bennett at New York's Radio City Music Hall in August 2021 during two 'One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga' shows that marked the legendary crooner's last live performances. The singer first teamed up with her musical hero on 'The Lady Is a Tramp' from Bennett's Duets II album," reported Billboard.
In addition to teaching her about music and showbiz, Gaga said that Bennett "showed me how to keep my spirits high and my head screwed on straight."
"He was an optimist, he believed in quality work AND quality life. Plus, there was the gratitude...Tony was always grateful," she said. "Our age difference didn't matter-- in fact, it gave us each something neither of us had with most people. We were from two different stages in life entirely--inspired."
Sounds like Gaga will be channeling the best of Bennett's influence when she takes to the stage again.
"An era of memory loss is such a sacred time in a person's life. All I wanted was for Tony to remember how much I loved him and how grateful I was to have him in my life," said Gaga. "But, as that faded slowly I knew deep down he was sharing with me the most vulnerable moment in his life that he could – being willing to sing with me when his nature was changing so deeply."
She added, "I'll never forget this experience. I'll never forget Tony Bennett."
Neither will we.
