Lady Gaga Reminisces On How Tony Bennett "Saved Her Life" When She Was About To Quit Music

The story of a life-saving duet.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• July 24, 2023

Everyone knows Lady Gaga as an enigmatic and boundary-pushing artist. She stands as one of the most influential superstars of her generation, with 13 Grammy's to her name, among other jaw-dropping achievements.

Yet, behind the fame and success, a lesser-known chapter of her story emerges. It may sound surprising, but at some point, the pressures of the music industry nearly led her to abandon her passion.

At the critical juncture, an unexpected savior appeared in the form of the late icon, Tony Bennett. He not only reignited Gaga's love for music but also provided an invaluable friendship.

When Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga joined forces for their album "Cheek to Cheek" in 2014, some may have found it an unlikely partnership. However, as their bond strengthened, Gaga revealed that just months prior, she was on the brink of giving up on singing altogether.

The all-consuming pressures of the music industry, the relentless demands, and the struggles with exploitation had left her feeling 'dead" inside. But then, Tony Bennett came into her life, offering nothing but friendship and a genuine appreciation for her voice.

The impact of Bennett's presence on Gaga's life was evident in her words of gratitude and admiration for him. Amidst the storm of doubts and uncertainties, Tony's care for her well-being served as the trigger that reminded Gaga of the joy and love she had for her craft.

Scroll down to find out more details of the story.

An unforgettable performance by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett during her residency at Dolby Live (Park Theater), Park MGM

While promoting their album, Gaga and Bennett had a lot to reveal to Parade Magazine.

Gaga said, "Six months ago, I didn't even want to sing anymore."

"Do you know what Duke Ellington said? He said, 'Number one, don't quit. Number two, listen to number one," Bennett remarked.

"Right! The other day, Tony said, 'I've ­never once in my career not wanted to do this.' It stung. Six months ago, I didn't feel that way. I tell Tony every day that he saved my life," Gaga replied.

It was evident that the pressure of the music industry was affecting Gaga negatively.

"I'm not going to say any names, but people get irrational when it comes to ­money—with how they treat you, with what they expect from you," she told Parade. "But if you help an artist, it doesn't give you the right, once the artist is big, to take advantage of them." 

"I was so sad. I couldn't sleep. I felt dead. And then I spent a lot of time with Tony. He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice."

At this point, Bennett held Gaga's hand and replied: "I understand."

"It meant a lot to me, Tony. I don't have many people I can relate to," she replied.

Indeed, Gaga and Bennette's friendship was something special. While many refer to her as "Gaga", Bennett calls her "Lady."

"Cheek to Cheek" was definitely not the end of their awesome collaboration. The pair hit the studio once again to record a second album, "Love for Sale."

After Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Gaga made sure to honor her friend at the Grammy's, singing the tracks "Love for Sale" and "Do I Love You."

Sadly, Tony Bennett passed away on Friday in New York City, aged 96. The Legendary Crooner recorded over 50 studio albums and dozens of live albums and compilations.

It is worthy of note that 7 of his albums hit the Top 10 on the Billboard charts. In addition, he has 19 Grammy Awards to his name—one of which was with Gaga for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "Cheek to Cheek."

Jesse