AARP Hearing Center
Lady Gaga (left) performs with Tony Bennett during her 'JAZZ & PIANO' residency at Park Theater at Park MGM on January 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Park MGM Las Vegas
Tony Bennett turns 95 today, and some fans will be lucky enough to celebrate with him tonight at Radio City Music Hall. The beloved singer will perform with Lady Gaga in the first of two concerts (the other is on Aug. 5), called “One Last Time.” She tweeted, “I am so honored and excited to celebrate Tony's 95th birthday with him at these special shows.”
"Being on stage in his hometown of New York City at Radio City is the best birthday gift he could possible receive,” says Bennett's devoted wife of 14 years, Susan Benedetto, to AARP. “And sharing the stage with Lady Gaga is the icing on the cake."
A smattering of tickets for the concerts, which went on sale July 21, are still available (for about $250 and up); all attendees are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
There is added poignancy to these concerts, after the revelation of Bennett's Alzheimer's disease this year. In an interview with AARP The Magazine, he and Benedetto (she uses the name Bennett was born with), shared that he was diagnosed in 2016, and since then has had progressive memory loss and disorientation — typical symptoms of Alzheimer's.
But he can still sing. Like many Alzheimer's patients, he's able to remember music (and music seems to help strengthen memory). Indeed, Bennett performed frequently until the pandemic hit, and has several more concerts scheduled through December. His spokesperson says he's doubled his rehearsal times over the past month, often with Lady Gaga, to prepare for the birthday shows.
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