Lady Gaga has paid tribute to her late friend and collaborator Tony Bennett on the first anniversary of his death.
The pop superstar, 38, and the legendary jazz crooner became friends after meeting back in 2011 and in 2014 collaborated on an album of duets, Cheek to Cheek.
The pair were so close that Bennett’s final performances were with Gaga at two Radio City Music Hall concerts in August 2021 marking his 95th birthday. He passed away at the age of 96 on 21 June last year after a battle with Alzheimer’s.
On the anniversary, Gaga shared a black and white photo of herself with Bennett on Instagram and wrote: “It’s been one year since Tony passed away. This picture says it all.”
Next to the image, which showed Gaga in a ballgown with her hand on her heart as he, in a tuxedo, sketched a portrait of her, she continued: “I’m so grateful for my continued friendship with his wife Susan – the legacy of jazz music he left – and for the community of jazz musicians I still work with who all knew and loved Tony. We’re gonna keep on swingin’. Miss you. Life is a beautiful thing.”
The sketch in question was featured on the cover of the duo’s 2021 follow-up to Cheek to Cheek, Love for Sale.
Clips of Bennett drawing Gaga were also included in their video for the track Concentrate On You.
