Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty
Lady GagaandTony Bennettmay have been considered an unlikely pair when they first announced their plans to collaborate, but turns out, fans couldn’t get enough of the dynamic singing duo — and the love the stars felt for one another was very real.As fans mark Bennett’s first posthumous birthday on Aug. 3 —the Grammy winner died at age 96on July 21, 2023 — look back on the singers' sweetest moments through the years.
Lady GagaandTony Bennettmay have been considered an unlikely pair when they first announced their plans to collaborate, but turns out, fans couldn’t get enough of the dynamic singing duo — and the love the stars felt for one another was very real.
As fans mark Bennett’s first posthumous birthday on Aug. 3 —the Grammy winner died at age 96on July 21, 2023 — look back on the singers' sweetest moments through the years.
01of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga MeetKevin Mazur/WireImageThere’s nothing quite as delightful as an unlikely Hollywood friendship, and perhaps the greatest one of all is the one betweenLady GagaandTony Bennett.The pop star and jazz icon first met in 2011 after Gaga performed a rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Orange Colored Sky” at the Robin Hood Foundation Gala in New York City. Soon after, the talented duo collaborated on Bennett’sDuets IIalbum that same year, singing the classic, “The Lady Is a Tramp.“Here, the pair pose together at the 2012 Grammy Awards.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Meet
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
There’s nothing quite as delightful as an unlikely Hollywood friendship, and perhaps the greatest one of all is the one betweenLady GagaandTony Bennett.
The pop star and jazz icon first met in 2011 after Gaga performed a rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Orange Colored Sky” at the Robin Hood Foundation Gala in New York City. Soon after, the talented duo collaborated on Bennett’sDuets IIalbum that same year, singing the classic, “The Lady Is a Tramp.”
Here, the pair pose together at the 2012 Grammy Awards.
02of 19Tony Bennett asks Lady Gaga to CollaborateTheo Wargo/GettyThe pair met at a benefit concert, with Bennett recounting toParadein 2014, “It was the first time I heard Lady perform, and I could not believe the audience’s reaction.“Bennett recounted, “The first thing I said was, ‘Let’s do an album together.’ And she said, ‘Okay.’ That quick. I just love what she did on [their albumCheek toCheek]. She’s up there with Ella Fitzgerald, who was the greatest singer in the world.”
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Tony Bennett asks Lady Gaga to Collaborate
Theo Wargo/Getty
The pair met at a benefit concert, with Bennett recounting toParadein 2014, “It was the first time I heard Lady perform, and I could not believe the audience’s reaction.”
Bennett recounted, “The first thing I said was, ‘Let’s do an album together.’ And she said, ‘Okay.’ That quick. I just love what she did on [their albumCheek toCheek]. She’s up there with Ella Fitzgerald, who was the greatest singer in the world.”
03of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Release Debut AlbumKevin Mazur/WireImageThe pair’s debut album of standards,Cheek to Cheek,was released in 2014, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Release Debut Album
The pair’s debut album of standards,Cheek to Cheek,was released in 2014, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
04of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Perform Together LivePatrick Beaudry via GettyThey took their album performance live, including songs like “Anything Goes,” “I Won’t Dance,” and “Cheek to Cheek.”
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Perform Together Live
Patrick Beaudry via Getty
They took their album performance live, including songs like “Anything Goes,” “I Won’t Dance,” and “Cheek to Cheek.”
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Tony Bennett on What He’s Learned from Lady Gaga
Mark Renders/Getty
06of 19Lady Gaga on What She’s Learned from Tony BennettLou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyMeanwhile, Gaga said that Bennett taught her “that it’s important to stay true to yourself.” She added, “When I came into this with Tony, he didn’t say, ‘You’ve got to take off all the crazy outfits and just sing.’ He said, ‘Be yourself.'”
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Lady Gaga on What She’s Learned from Tony Bennett
Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Meanwhile, Gaga said that Bennett taught her “that it’s important to stay true to yourself.” She added, “When I came into this with Tony, he didn’t say, ‘You’ve got to take off all the crazy outfits and just sing.’ He said, ‘Be yourself.'”
07of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Team Up for a CampaignKevin Mazur/GettyIn December 2014, the pairjoined forces for an H&M holiday campaign.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Team Up for a Campaign
Kevin Mazur/Getty
In December 2014, the pairjoined forces for an H&M holiday campaign.
08of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Perform on New Year’s EveEthan Miller/WireImageThe crooner performed withLady Gagaon New Year’s Eve 2014 in Las Vegas, opening their Cheek to Cheek tour.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Perform on New Year’s Eve
Ethan Miller/WireImage
The crooner performed withLady Gagaon New Year’s Eve 2014 in Las Vegas, opening their Cheek to Cheek tour.
09of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Embark on World TourDouglas Gorenstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyThe stars dazzled on their Cheek to Cheektour, taking their standards album on the road everywhere from L.A. to Italy.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Embark on World Tour
Douglas Gorenstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
The stars dazzled on their Cheek to Cheektour, taking their standards album on the road everywhere from L.A. to Italy.
10of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Meet the RoyalsAlan Davidson - WPA Pool / GettyThe duo metPrince Harrywhile at a charity concert in London in June 2015.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Meet the Royals
Alan Davidson - WPA Pool / Getty
The duo metPrince Harrywhile at a charity concert in London in June 2015.
11of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga win Grammy AwardChristopher Polk/WireImageIn 2015, the pair won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album forCheek to Cheek.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga win Grammy Award
Christopher Polk/WireImage
In 2015, the pair won the Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album forCheek to Cheek.
12of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Earn Six Grammy NominationsFrazer Harrison/GettyIt wouldn’t be the last time that the pair were nominated for Grammys: in November 2021, the 36-year-old pop star and 95-year-old legendary singer werenominated for six Grammy Awardsfor work on their joint album,Love For Sale.
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Earn Six Grammy Nominations
Frazer Harrison/Getty
It wouldn’t be the last time that the pair were nominated for Grammys: in November 2021, the 36-year-old pop star and 95-year-old legendary singer werenominated for six Grammy Awardsfor work on their joint album,Love For Sale.
13of 19Lady Gaga Celebrates Tony Bennett’s 90th BirthdayKevin Mazur/GettyGaga was on hand to celebrate her pal’s 90th birthday in August 2016 in N.Y.C.
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Lady Gaga Celebrates Tony Bennett’s 90th Birthday
Gaga was on hand to celebrate her pal’s 90th birthday in August 2016 in N.Y.C.
14of 19Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett Release Second Album TogetherLady Gaga and Tony Bennett.Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesThe pairreunited for a second album in 2018, a Cole Porter tribute album calledLove for Sale.It was released in 2021.“I think it was the next day, after the record released and had gone No. 1, he said, ‘I wanna make this Cole Porter record with you,’ and I said I would do it, and then guess what?” Gagasaid in a trailer forLove for Sale. “We did it!““She’s got so much talent that the minute we’re together, something very good happens between the two of us,” Bennett adds.
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Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett Release Second Album Together
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The pairreunited for a second album in 2018, a Cole Porter tribute album calledLove for Sale.It was released in 2021.
“I think it was the next day, after the record released and had gone No. 1, he said, ‘I wanna make this Cole Porter record with you,’ and I said I would do it, and then guess what?” Gagasaid in a trailer forLove for Sale. “We did it!”
“She’s got so much talent that the minute we’re together, something very good happens between the two of us,” Bennett adds.
15of 19Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Perform ‘One Last’ Concert TogetherKevin Mazur/GettyIn August 2021, the pairreunited for a concert at N.Y.C.’s Radio City Music Hall. The concert, titledOne Last Time, came several months after Bennett’s familyrevealed that he lives with Alzheimer’s disease.In a memorable moment from the concert,Bennett remembered his old friend,Lady Gaga, as she came out onto the stage. Of the emotional moment, Gaga shared on60 Minutes, “That’s the first time that Tony said my name in a long time. I had to keep it together because we had a sold-out show and I have a job to do. But I’ll tell you when I walked out on that stage and he said, ‘It’sLady Gaga,’ my friend saw me. It was very special.”
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Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Perform ‘One Last’ Concert Together
In August 2021, the pairreunited for a concert at N.Y.C.’s Radio City Music Hall. The concert, titledOne Last Time, came several months after Bennett’s familyrevealed that he lives with Alzheimer’s disease.
In a memorable moment from the concert,Bennett remembered his old friend,Lady Gaga, as she came out onto the stage. Of the emotional moment, Gaga shared on60 Minutes, “That’s the first time that Tony said my name in a long time. I had to keep it together because we had a sold-out show and I have a job to do. But I’ll tell you when I walked out on that stage and he said, ‘It’sLady Gaga,’ my friend saw me. It was very special.”
16of 19Lady Gaga Says Tony Bennett Is One of Her ‘Favorite People on the Whole Planet’Kevin Mazur/GettyLady Gaga said after Grammy nominations were announced, “Tony isone of my most favorite peopleon the whole planet and I love him with all my heart. I love his family with all my heart, I love his wife, Susan, with all my heart. I can’t tell you how much I learned from him and what it’s like to sing with a legend for so many years.”
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Lady Gaga Says Tony Bennett Is One of Her ‘Favorite People on the Whole Planet’
Lady Gaga said after Grammy nominations were announced, “Tony isone of my most favorite peopleon the whole planet and I love him with all my heart. I love his family with all my heart, I love his wife, Susan, with all my heart. I can’t tell you how much I learned from him and what it’s like to sing with a legend for so many years.”
17of 19Tony Bennett Congratulates Lady Gaga on Her Oscar NominationTony Bennett/instagramGaga received a nomination for her power ballad “Hold My Hand” featured on theTop Gun: Mavericksoundtrack at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony. She was honored in the “Best Original Song” category.Not only did the Academy recognize her for her work, but Bennett showed his love and support for her onInstagram. “Congratulations to the amazingly talented Lady Gaga on her 4th Oscar nomination!” he began.“Today,#LadyGagamakes history as the first artist to receive three nominations in the ‘Best Original Song’ category at the#Oscars. So proud of you!” Bennett concluded.
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Tony Bennett Congratulates Lady Gaga on Her Oscar Nomination
Tony Bennett/instagram
Gaga received a nomination for her power ballad “Hold My Hand” featured on theTop Gun: Mavericksoundtrack at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony. She was honored in the “Best Original Song” category.
Not only did the Academy recognize her for her work, but Bennett showed his love and support for her onInstagram. “Congratulations to the amazingly talented Lady Gaga on her 4th Oscar nomination!” he began.
“Today,#LadyGagamakes history as the first artist to receive three nominations in the ‘Best Original Song’ category at the#Oscars. So proud of you!” Bennett concluded.
18of 19Tony Bennett’s Last Tribute to Lady GagaD Dipasupil/GettyOne week prior toBennett’s death at age 96on July 21, he posted a sweet tribute to Gaga onInstagram. The video featured the pair singing their version of Bennett’s “Night and Day” hit, originally off hisPerfectly Frankalbum released in September 1992.“Remembering the musical magic made in the studio with the remarkable Lady Gaga for our rendition of ‘Night and Day’,” he captioned the video.
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Tony Bennett’s Last Tribute to Lady Gaga
D Dipasupil/Getty
One week prior toBennett’s death at age 96on July 21, he posted a sweet tribute to Gaga onInstagram. The video featured the pair singing their version of Bennett’s “Night and Day” hit, originally off hisPerfectly Frankalbum released in September 1992.
“Remembering the musical magic made in the studio with the remarkable Lady Gaga for our rendition of ‘Night and Day’,” he captioned the video.
19of 19Lady Gaga Remembers Tony BennettDesiree Navarro/FilmMagicDays after the legendary crooner’s death in July 2023, Gaga posted a tribute to her friend on Instagram.“I will miss my friend forever,” the singer wrote in anemotional Instagram postshowing the pair hugging in a dressing room.“I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together,“added Gaga.“With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power,” she continued. “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.”
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Lady Gaga Remembers Tony Bennett
Desiree Navarro/FilmMagic
Days after the legendary crooner’s death in July 2023, Gaga posted a tribute to her friend on Instagram.
“I will miss my friend forever,” the singer wrote in anemotional Instagram postshowing the pair hugging in a dressing room.
“I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together,“added Gaga.
“With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power,” she continued. “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.”
source: people.com
