Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty
Tony Bennett is reuniting withLady Gaga.
“Come witness a new chapter inUnplugged’s history as Tony Bennett andLady Gagagrace theUnpluggedstage for the first time, performing fresh renditions off their brand new Jazz standards album — and a handful of surprises you definitely won’t want to miss,“the ticketing websitefor the event states.
The upcoming special will be the first collaboration for the two since they released the mega-hit albumCheek to Cheekin 2014, which they performed together at countless venues across the country.
Tony Bennett.Samir Hussein/WireImage
In a Februaryprofile forAARP, Bennett’s family announced that the “Rags to Riches” singer was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease in 2016. According to Bennett’s wife, Susan Benedetto, 54, the hitmaker is “incapable of understanding the disease.”
Still, Bennett has continued his decades-long music career following his diagnosis. His neurologist, Gayatri Devi, believesperforming is beneficialfor his condition.
“It kept him on his toes and also stimulated his brain in a significant way,” Devi toldAARP,later adding, “He is doing so many things, at 94, that many people without dementia cannot do. He really is the symbol of hope for someone with a cognitive disorder.”
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.Kevin Mazur/Getty
However, the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on Bennett. According to Devi, Bennett’s memory “was so much better” before the outbreak prevented him from performing for months and called it “a real blow from a cognitive perspective.”
Now, Bennett is getting back to what makes him happiest — performing, even practicing twice a week.
“Singing is everything to him. Everything,” Benedetto toldAARPat the time. “It has saved his life many times.”
Over the years, Bennett has fostered a special relationship with Gaga. During a February interview withGayle KingforCBS This Morning, Benedetto revealed that the “Marry the Night” singer was aware of Bennett’s diagnosis.
“Yes, but you know, Gaga is wonderful,” Benedetto told the host at the time. And when asked whether the “My Favorite Things” hitmaker still recognizes Gaga, Benedetto said with a laugh, “Most definitely. Gaga is hard to forget.”
Bennett’s son, Danny, said the family even consulted Gaga before taking the Alzheimer’s diagnosis public, tellingAARP,“She watches his back all the time. She was like, ‘Absolutely, it’s just another gift that he can give to the world.'”
In addition to the upcomingUnpluggedspecial, Bennett and Gaga are also gearing up to release theirsecond joint albumthis year. A release date for the album has not yet been announced.
source: people.com
