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In Sunday’s episode of 60 minutes, Lady Gaga spoke with Anderson Cooper about his recent performance with legendary crooner Tony Bennett, who was battling an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and the moving moment he mentioned his name on stage for the first time “in a long time.”
Lady Gaga joined Bennett on stage in August for two shows at Radio City Music Hall in honor of her 95th birthday and possibly her last performance in front of a crowd. Bennett and Lady Gaga released an album in 2014 titled Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: cheek to cheek live! Bennett’s rep confirmed Hollywood journalist as the singer’s second collaborative album with Lady Gaga, Love for sale will be his last studio album and he will not be resuming his touring schedule.
Bennett and his family revealed in February that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
During her meeting with Cooper, Lady Gaga said that during rehearsals leading up to the shows, Bennett did not call her by name. She explained, “During the first two weeks I saw Tony since COVID, he called me ‘honey’, but I wasn’t sure he knew who I was.”
The “Born This Way” singer explained that during rehearsals, she found new ways to connect with Bennett by asking simple questions, as the singer’s brain disease affects memory. She said she would ask him if he wanted to repeat one of her songs and he would respond easily. “When this music comes [snaps fingers], something happens to him, “she said.” He knows exactly what he’s doing and what’s important to me, in fact, is making sure I don’t embarrass myself. “
But on the day of the performance, Bennett surprised Lady Gaga in a sentimental moment. 60 minutes showed a clip of Bennett introducing Lady Gaga by name when she appeared on stage. “It’s the first time Tony has mentioned my name in a long time,” she recalls. “I had to stay the course because we had a sold-out show and I have a job to do. But I’ll tell you when I went out on stage and he said, “It’s Lady Gaga”, my friend saw me. It was very special.
When it was time for Bennett to leave the stage, Lady Gaga approached him and said, “’Mr. Bennett, it would be my honor if I could escort you off the stage. And he said:’ OK.’ And I did. And just being the woman who got him off the stage, that’s enough for me. “
Lady Gaga told Cooper that Bennett’s final performance is not a “sad story”, but rather an “emotional” one. “It’s hard to see someone change,” she said. “I think what’s been beautiful about it and what’s been difficult is seeing how it affects him in some ways, but seeing how it doesn’t affect his talent. I think he really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing that things can change and you can still be beautiful.
Bennett’s wife Susan was also interviewed for the segment and confirmed that her husband still recognizes her and her children. “We are blessed in many ways. He’s very nice, she said. She also told Cooper that Bennett was unaware of his diagnosis (“He doesn’t know he has it,” she said) but Bennett still knows the lyrics to his songs. As Cooper explained, he can sing a tune without any cue cards or scores.
Bennett’s neurologist Dr Gayatri Devi said in the segment that the iconic musician also remembers who he is. “Because he’s an artist… He knows he’s Tony Bennett,” Devi explained. “And he knows how to behave like Tony Bennett.”
Devi said Bennett can remember his profession and his songs because that information stays in “an area of his brain that gives him real meaning and purpose in his life.” She continued, “Music is housed in different parts of the brain, including the parts of the brain that process emotions. And hence, it is easy to be moved when you hear it.
She added, “That’s true for a lot of great people, they have an unwavering passion that guides them and everything else is secondary. And for Tony, it’s always been music. And so, it’s no wonder his brain was pretty much built around his music.
Watch the segment below.
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