Lady Gaga paid a touching tribute Thursday with her first show as part of her returning jazz and piano residency in Las Vegas.
The 37-year-old singer dedicated her first performance and a special song, Fly Me to the Moon, to the late jazz legend Tony Bennett – who died in July at the age of 96.
Entertainment Tonight reported that in her first of a 12-piece show at Park MGM, she played a range of American classics and reimagined versions of her biggest hits.
And at one point she spoke directly to Bennett’s widow, Susan Benedetto, 56, who was reportedly sitting in the audience as she introduced the touching segment. “Susan, everyone in this audience loves you so much,” she said.
Then the Applause hitmaker, who worked on “The Tribute to End All Tributes” in his memory, added that she “didn’t know exactly what to say about Tony because this whole show was for Tony.”
Heartfelt tribute: Lady Gaga paid a touching tribute Thursday with her first show as part of her returning jazz and piano residency in Las Vegas; seen in February 2022
Her late pal: The 37-year-old singer dedicated her first performance and a special song, Fly Me to the Moon, to the late jazz legend Tony Bennett – who died in July at the age of 96; seen in February 2015
“Everything” is for him, she explained. “The opening number, the middle numbers, all the diamonds, all the musical instruments, all the conducting, all the improvisations were in his memory.”
“But if I know Tony well, I know he would be really mad at me for being sad, so I couldn’t come out here and be sad,” she said before singing her next song with a special connection to her late Girlfriend introduced.
Before singing her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” she told the audience the backstory of what the song means to her.
“I sang this song when Tony was alive,” she explained. “And I’ll sing it now, even when he’s gone.” [because] he will never be gone.
“Susan, this is for you,” she continued. “I’ll get through it.” I promise.
“I’ll never do it as well as Tony, but I’ll try,” she said before performing the song.
The 13-time Grammy winner previously launched her jazz and piano shows concurrently with her pop residency Enigma in January 2019.
She last performed her jazz residency in May 2022 and is now returning after taking a break to film Joker: Folie à Deux.
In honor of him and his wife: And at one point she spoke directly to Bennett’s widow, Susan Benedetto, 56, who was reportedly sitting in the audience as she introduced the touching segment. “Susan, everyone in this audience loves you so much,” she said.
In his memory: Then the Applause hitmaker – who worked on “The Tribute to End All Tributes” in his memory – added that she “didn’t know exactly what to say about Tony because this whole show was for Tony “. ; seen in February 2015
Touching Tribute: Before singing her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” she told the audience the backstory of what the song means to her. “I sang this song when Tony was alive,” she explained. “And I’ll sing it now, even when he’s gone.” [because] he will never be gone’; seen in February 2015
Close Collaborator and Longtime Friends: Gaga was close friends with Bennett, having worked with him on his 2011 Duets II album and their 2014 collaboration Cheek to Cheek. In 2021, the two also released their second album together, Love for Sale – the sixty-first and final studio album of Bennett’s career and Gaga’s seventh; seen in February 2015
Gaga was close friends with Bennett, having worked with him on his 2011 album Duets II and their 2014 collaboration Cheek to Cheek.
In 2021, the two also released their second album together, Love for Sale – the sixty-first and final studio album of Bennett’s career and Gaga’s seventh.
The Cole Porter tribute album earned him his last Grammy.
Bennett died on July 21 in his hometown of New York City – just two weeks before his 97th birthday.
A cause of death was not revealed, but Bennett previously revealed to the public in 2021 that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.