It's remarkable enough that Tony Bennett celebrated his 95th birthday on Aug. 3 by performing at Radio City Music Hall with Lady Gaga.
It's miraculous and moving that he managed to do that while battling Alzheimer's.
During Sunday's 60 Minutes, a segment reported by Anderson Cooper gives the most intimate glimpse yet at how Bennett's condition has deteriorated since his diagnosis in 2016. (He publicly disclosed his Alzheimer's in February.)
"He recognizes me, thank goodness, [and] his children," Susan Benedetto—Bennett's wife of 14 years and partner of 30-plus years—told Anderson. "We are blessed in a lot of ways. He's very sweet. He doesn't know he has [Alzheimer's]!"
Benedetto explained that not being able to perform during the pandemic has "been hard on" Bennett.
"Our doctor said, 'If he wants to sing, let him sing because that's the best thing for him,' she continued. "All the meds and all the treatments they do the stimulate your brain, for him, there's nothing more stimulating than performing."
He had no notes, no cue cards, and his Alzheimer’s Disease was taking its toll. But when Tony Bennett stood by the piano to rehearse for his upcoming concert, something incredible happened. https://t.co/fdqwFHOVUl pic.twitter.com/YQSGvdbx9h
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
“Even though he doesn't know what the day might be or where his apartment is, he still can sing… the repertoire of the ‘American Songbook,’” says Tony Bennett’s neurologist Dr. Gayatri Devi. “[Music is] kind of like a whole-brain activator.” https://t.co/ukMoRMfdsq pic.twitter.com/A7uLiElNSC
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
It was Danny Bennett, Tony's eldest of four kids, who suggested Bennett play Radio City Music Hall, later announced by Gaga in July. It will broadcast on CBS later this fall:
One Last Time An evening with @itstonybennett and me at Radio City Music Hall on August 3rd & 5th. I am so honored and excited to celebrate Tony’s 95th birthday with him at these special shows. Tickets go on sale Thursday, July 22nd at 10am ET on https://t.co/diUM1qWy7A ✨ pic.twitter.com/gHEcsWb704
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 19, 2021
Toward the end of the package, footage from Bennett's birthday set at Radio City played—including him smiling and welcoming Gaga back to the stage by yelling her name into the microphone, which was a more meaningful moment than anybody in the audience realized.
"That's the first time that Tony said my name in a long time," Gaga, 35, revealed to Anderson. "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's Lady Gaga,' my friend saw me. And it was very special."
“When that music comes on… something happens to him. He knows exactly what he's doing. And what's important for me, actually, just to make sure that I don't get in the way of that,” says Lady Gaga about singing with Tony Bennett. https://t.co/e8kQNOYYrd pic.twitter.com/o5IgB0zCtO
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
On Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday he performed at Radio City Music Hall. Tony has Alzheimer’s Disease and no one knew what to expect. But, “once he saw the audience… he became himself... it was like a light switch,” says his wife, Susan. https://t.co/BUkPXm5nvA pic.twitter.com/20zcuidIE2
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
At the end of Tony Bennett’s performance at Radio City Music Hall, Lady Gaga escorted him off the stage one last time. “Just simply being the woman that got to walk him off stage, that's enough for me,” says Lady Gaga. https://t.co/s33c5rWpCD pic.twitter.com/ORA8joMKDe
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
“It's emotional. It's hard to watch somebody change,” says Lady Gaga about performing with Tony Bennett, who has Alzheimer’s. “He really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing that things can change & you can still be magnificent.” https://t.co/jN5wnIVozD pic.twitter.com/cW6jHdWmPE
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 4, 2021
Unfortunately, a few days later when Cooper joined Bennett and Benedetto for their daily walk in Central Park, Bennett "had no memory of playing Radio City at all."
Bennett and Gaga released Love For Sale, their second jazz album together after 2014's Cheek to Cheek, on Friday.
Watch the full 60 Minutes feature below.
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