LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Lady Gaga has paid homage to late traditional pop singer and her mentor Tony Benett.
For the first time since May 2022, the 37-year-old singer resumed her Lady Gaga: Jazz & Piano Las Vegas Residency on Thursday, August 31.
The concert, which features the 'Bloody Mary' singer's classic jazz hits, performed her first gig since the death of Tony Bennett in late July. During her gig, she paid her respects to the iconic musician.
Fans recorded a video of Gaga speaking on stage about Bennett who died at the age of 96 after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.
The Grammy Award winner also dedicated a song to his wife Susan Benedetto who was present in the audience. She married the recording artist in 2007 after spending 20 years together.
What did Lady Gaga say?
“Susan, everybody in this audience loves you so much,” Gaga said as she began her tribute according to People.
“The truth is I didn’t know exactly what to say about Tony because the truth is, this whole show was for Tony, everything,” she continued.
“The opening number, the middle numbers, all the diamonds, all the musical instruments, all the conducting, all the improvisation was in his memory,” she added.
Lady Gaga said that Tony Bennett would want her to continue performing
Lady Gaga also said that the 'Rags to Riches' singer would have wanted her to keep on continuing with her performances.
"But, if I know Tony well, I know he would be real mad at me for being sad, so I couldn’t come out here and be sad", she said.
"I sung this song while Tony was still alive, and I’m going to sing it now even though he’s gone, because he’ll never be gone,” she said.
The 'A Star is Born' actress then sweetly called out Bennett’s widow again.
“Susan, this is for you, and I’m going to get through it, I promise. And I’ll never do it as well as Tony, but I’ll try,” she added, before performing a slowed-down version of 'Fly Me to the Moon.'
She even mentioned Benedetto's name in the middle of the song before jumping into the chorus.
When did Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett first meet?
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett first met at a gala in 2011 and soon became close friends.
They recorded two Grammy-winning albums together, 2014’s 'Cheek to Cheek' and 2021’s 'Love for Sale.'
They also often played shows together, including the crooner’s final performance which was a celebration of his 95th birthday at New York's Radio City Music Hall in August 2021.
Lady Gaga's tribute to Tony Bennett
Lady Gaga wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram shortly after Bennett's death.
“I will miss my friend forever. I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together", she penned.
“With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power,” Gaga 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,” she wrote.
