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Will Tony Bennett ever sing again? Here's why singer's last song is with Lady Gaga

'Just simply being the woman that got to walk him off stage, that's enough for me,' Lady Gaga remarked about performing with Tony Bennett

Veteran singer Tony Bennett, 95, who was revealed to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, bid an emotional adieu to his music career that spanned seven decades. The legendary artist delivered an emotional final performance with Lady Gaga at the Radio City Music Hall in October 2021, enthralling the audience once and for all with his extraordinary vocals. More significantly, the singer magically overcame his struggles with Alzheimer's and dementia the moment he started singing. To Lady Gaga's delight, Tony Bennett even managed to remember her name without fail, despite his struggle with day-to-day activities. 

In August 2021, Tony Bennett's son and manager Danny Bennett had revealed that his father is permanently retiring from stage owing to health issues. Six of the singer's upcoming shows were canceled, which made the Radio City Music Hall concert his final one. Throughout an illustrious career of over 70 years, Bennett had collaborated with icons like Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, Chuck Wayne, Diana Krall, Amy Winehouse, and Lady Gaga. With Gaga, he has recorded two albums, 'Cheek to Cheek' in 2014 and his last ever album Love for Sale in 2021. The 20-time Grammy awardee is presently married to Susan Crow, who is 40 years younger than him, but has devoted herself to become Bennett's full-time caregiver.

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Tony Bennett's preparation for his last big concert with Lady Gaga was documented by '60 Minutes'. Host Anderson Cooper interacted with his family as well as Lady Gaga to learn about their struggles, experiences and cherished memories with the maestro. Gaga, who was overwhelmed to be the person to escort Bennett off the stage for the last time ever, remarked, "Just simply being the woman that got to walk him off stage, that's enough for me."

While sharing her experience of working with him, Gaga revealed, “It's emotional. It's hard to watch somebody change. He really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing that things can change & you can still be magnificent.” She also added how Bennett magically gets transformed to a different world once he hears a known melody and starts singing. 

Bennett's neurologist Dr. Gayatri Devi, who diagnosed him in 2017, explained how Bennett manages to miraculously overcome his limitations whenever he is performing. "People respond differently depending on their strengths. In Tony's case, it's his musical memory, his ability to be a performer. Those are an innate and hard-wired part of his brain. So even though he doesn't know what the day might be or where his apartment is, he still can sing the whole repertoire of the American Songbook and move people," she elaborated.

Bennett's last performance and Lady Gaga's outstanding repertoire with him were hailed by fans worldwide. Emmy-winning reporter Nick Weig tweeted, "Heartbreaking. Love Tony Bennett and love his relationship with Lady Gaga. May we all have someone like this as our light dims."

Artist Shannon Hurley tweeted, "If you haven't heard the new Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga singles, they are among the best that either has ever put out. Watch below to see witness the power of music when Tony starts singing."

A fan tweeted, "Listening to Love for sale reminds of my younger days when I once went to a Tony Bennett concert, it was so thrilling, they are telling me that Lady Gaga will be performing jazz in Vegas, if only I had a date to go with..."

"This is so emotional because it was the first time in a long time that Tony Bennett called her Lady Gaga," a fan shared along with a video of the moment.