Tony Bennett’s wife revealed that the legendary 95-year-old singer does not know he has Alzheimer’s

Susan Benedetto told how the artist prepares for his shows with Lady Gaga. “When it was time to rehearse, something incredible happened,” he said.

When Tony Bennett’s family announced in February that he had Alzheimer’s disease, few fans of the singer imagined they would see him on stage again. But this summer, with the help of his family, the 95-year-old genius returned to rehearse for two concerts at Radio City Music Hall, with his friend Lady Gaga.

“No one knew for sure if Tony would be able to pull it off, but his family believed that Tony’s story could give hope to others struggling with Alzheimer’s. And he invited us to follow him as he prepared for what would probably be his last act, “ said 60 Minutes reporter Anderson Cooper.

he legendary TV show was able to share with Bennett and his family the experience of preparing and in those conversations they revealed that the legendary artist, in reality, does not know that he is sick.

“How much does Tony understand about what’s going on around him at all times?” Cooper asked Susan, the artist’s wife. “Every day is different. Sometimes first thing in the morning, he’s more alert, ”said the woman, Susan Benedetto.

“But does he recognize you?” Asked the journalist. “He recognizes me, thank God, his children too … we are blessed in many ways. It’s very sweet. He doesn’t know he has it ”.

“Don’t you know you have Alzheimer’s?” Inquired the host of the show.

“No”.

The performer of classics like “The Way You Look Tonight” first expressed concern about his health in 2015 when he had trouble remembering the names of the musicians in his orchestra. The diagnosis was confirmed in 2016.

Susan revealed that what she does know is that she is at home, not performing on stage. He had continued to sing after his diagnosis, but the pandemic was especially harsh.

“It was Gayatri Devi, our doctor, who said: ‘If he wants to sing, let him sing, because it’s the best for him.’ You know, all the medicines and all the treatments that they do to stimulate your brain, for him there is nothing more stimulating than acting, ”explained Susan.

The legendary’s career could not end due to the pandemic, so the whole family went to work to achieve the return. Finally Tony’s oldest son and manager, Danny Bennett, got the idea for the Radio City concerts in August with Lady Gaga.

Tony and Lady Gaga released their first album together in 2014. In 2018, he was able to record another album with her, which just went on sale this past week. By last June, however, her illness had progressed and Susan told 60 Minutes that she wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen at the planned Radio City concert.

“But when it came time to rehearse, something incredible happened. Tony’s companion, Lee Musiker, started playing and all of a sudden he was back, ”she said excitedly. “I had no notes, no memory aid. We were amazed, all his old songs were still there in some way, “he added.