The legendary jazz musician and the pop star have had quite the unconventional Hollywood friendship, meeting serendipitously at a benefit concert over a decade ago and going on to record multiple albums together, performing their songs across the world. Gaga even once said on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, per People, “Tony is one of my most favorite people on the whole planet and I love him with all my heart.” So it’s heartwarming to see Bennett’s Twitter account share a sweet memory with the “Just Dance” singer on social media. “Playing a little pinball with Lady Gaga backstage in Vegas in 2019! #tbt,” the caption on the photo read. Bennett, wearing a tan, pinstriped suit jacket over a white button-up and patterned tie, stood at the foot of a pinball machine, his fingers poised over the buttons on the side. Lady Gaga, dressed in a black leather jumpsuit, stood next to him, looking over his shoulder as he played. The photo likely comes from Bennett’s guest appearance during Lady Gaga’s first Jazz & Piano show on the Las Vegas strip that year. Fans loved the shoutout, with several coming in hot with heart emojis. “You two are so great together!” said one. “What a cute picture of you and Lady Gaga, two beautiful stars!” said another. “This is so sweeeeet omg hope you’re well tony,” read a third reply. Unfortunately, Bennett has been living with Alzheimer’s for several years now. In the summer of 2021, the pair held a final concert titled One Last Time, and despite the disease, Bennett happily remembered the singer when she stepped out on stage, which Gaga later shared was the first time Bennett had said her name in a long time. “I had to keep it together because we had a sold-out show and I have a job to do,” she shared on 60 Minutes. “But I’ll tell you when I walked out on that stage and he said, ‘It’s Lady Gaga,’ my friend saw me. It was very special.”
