Lady Gaga Honors Tony Bennett: 'I Will Miss My Friend Forever'

Lady Gaga took to Instagram early Monday to pay tribute to her late friend and frequent collaborator Tony Bennett, who passed away on July 21 at the age of 96.

“I will always remember my friend.” I’ll miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, and performing on stage with him. “I got to live my life in a time warp with Tony,” she wrote with a photo of herself holding Bennett.

“Tony and I possessed this miraculous ability. We transported ourselves to another age, modernized the music, and breathed new life into it as a vocal duo.”

She went on to add that their chemistry and camaraderie were not staged.

“Our connection was genuine. Sure, he taught me about music and show business, but he also taught me how to keep my spirits up and my mind on straight,” Lady Gaga remarked.

“He was a believer in both quality work and quality life.” There was also the thankfulness…Tony was always appreciative. He fought in WWII, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and sung jazz among the world’s best vocalists and guitarists. I’ve been mourning Tony’s death for a long time. We had a long and emotional goodbye. He was my friend despite the fact that we were separated by 5 decades. “My true friend.”

The post has received over 1.1 million “likes” since it was published on Monday morning.

Bennett confirmed his 2016 Alzheimer’s diagnosis in a February 2021 interview with AARP magazine.

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)

“Life is a gift — even with Alzheimer’s,” he tweeted after the story emerged. Thank you to Susan and my family for your encouragement, and to @AARP The Magazine for publishing my story.”

Bennett toured until the coronavirus epidemic ended live performances in 2020.

He will officially retire from public life in August 2021, at the age of 95, following a pair of successful farewell concerts he headlined with Lady Gaga at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

Bennett had planned to return to the road for six more solo concerts that had been postponed due to the pandemic, but his son and manager Danny Bennett told Variety after the Gaga shows, “There won’t be any additional concerts.”

Lady Gaga Honors Tony Bennett: ‘I Will Miss My Friend Forever’

Lady Gaga took to Instagram early Monday to pay tribute to her late friend and frequent collaborator Tony Bennett, who passed away on July 21 at the age of 96.

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