Lady Gaga finally spoke about the death of her longtime friend and collaborator Tony Bennett in a moving post shared to Instagram late on Sunday night.
The 37-year-old singer–songwriter posted a sweet photo of herself and the legendary crooner — who died on July 21 at 96 — as they leaned in for a big hug.
‘I will miss my friend forever,’ she began her lengthy and emotional caption. ‘I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together.’
Farther down, the actress, who had Bennett sketch one of her tattoos, clarified that their relationship was ‘very real,’ and not just a transactional interaction to bolster their fame.
Despite that, she helped give Tony one last top 10 hit with their 2021 duets album Love For Sale, which marked his final release while alive.
Saying goodbye: Lady Gaga, 37, finally spoke about the death of her longtime friend and collaborator Tony Bennett in a moving post shared to Instagram late on Sunday night
A hole in her heart: ‘I will miss my friend forever,’ she began her lengthy and emotional caption while praising the legendary crooner, who died on July 21 at 96
Gaga then gushed about the strong bond and connection that they had, typing, ‘With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power. We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo.’
She emphasized that their relationship was ‘real’ and added, ‘it wasn’t an act. Our relationship was very real. Sure he taught me about music, about showbiz life, but he also showed me how to keep my spirits high and my head screwed on straight.’
‘”Straight ahead,” he’d say. He was an optimist, he believed in quality work AND quality life. Plus, there was the gratitude…Tony was always grateful.’
The songstress then listed a few historical moments Bennett had been a part of during his lifetime. ‘He served in WWII, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and sang jazz with the greatest singers and players in the world.’
The Poker Face singer emotionally expressed that she has been ‘grieving the loss of Tony’ but added that the pair ‘had a very long and powerful goodbye.’
Despite ‘5 decades’ between the two stars, ‘he was my friend. My real true friend’ and explained that their difference in age was never a hindrance.
‘Losing Tony to Alzheimer’s has been painful but it was also really beautiful. An era of memory loss is such a sacred time in a persons life,’ the House Of Gucci actress wrote, adding, ‘All I wanted was for Tony to remember how much I loved him and how grateful I was to have him in my life.’
‘But, as that faded slowly I knew deep down he was sharing with me the most vulnerable moment in his life that he could–being willing to sing with me when his nature was changing so deeply.’
‘Very real’: Farther down, the actress clarified that their relationship was ‘very real,’ and not just a transactional interaction to bolster their fame; seen in 2019 in Las Vegas
Powerful bond: Gaga then gushed about the strong bond and connection that they had, typing, ‘With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power’; seen in 2015 in Los Angeles
Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, stated that she will ‘never forget this experience’ and the Rags To Riches singer.
‘If I could say anything to the world about this I would say don’t discount your elders, don’t leave them behind when things change,’ she movingly added towards the end of her heart-tugging tribute.
‘Don’t flinch when you feel sad, just keep going straight ahead, sadness is part of it. Take care of your elders and I promise you will learn something special. Maybe even magical.’
‘And pay attention to silence—some of my musical partner and I’s most meaningful exchanges were with no melody at all,’ the performer wrote, concluding with, ‘I love you Tony. Love, Lady.’
On July 21, Tony’s publicist, Sylvia Weiner, announced that the crooner had passed away. Although a cause of death was not revealed, he notably was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016, but didn’t inform his fans of the diagnosis until 2021.
Despite battling the disease, the singer continuously stuck by his optimism, and collaborated with Lady Gaga on the album, Love For Sale, which was released in September 2021.
Along with the Just Dance songstress, Tony had collaborated with a number of other stars throughout his long-lasting career, such as Amy Winehouse and Frank Sinatra.
Bennett and Gaga first crossed paths in 2011 while attending the Robin Hood Foundation gala in NYC. During a past interview with People, she recalled meeting the crooner after she sang Nat King Cole’s Orange Colored Sky.
‘Tony heard me sing it, and he asked to meet me,’ the Born This Way singer said. ‘He said, “Do you want to do a jazz album together?” I said, “Of course I do!” We were fast friends.’
Unforgettable: Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, stated that she will ‘never forget this experience’ and the Rags To Riches singer; the pair seen in 2015
Saddening news: On July 21, Tony’s publicist, Sylvia Weiner, announced that the crooner had passed away; the crooner seen in 2019 in Michigan
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