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Young and the Restless star passes away after cancer battle

Veteran soap opera actress Meg Bennett has died at the of 75 after a lengthy battle with cancer. According to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/meg-bennett-dead-young-and-restless-1235878548/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a>, Bennett's family announced that she passed away on April 11th. Bennett had a prolific career in the world of soap operas as both a writer and actress, after working on high profile shows such as The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, Santa Barbara and many more. She became most known for her role on The Young and the Restless, appearing on 52 episodes from 1980–2020 playing the role of Julia Martin/Julia Newman, the spouse of Eric Braeden’s character Victor Newman. Bennett also had a stellar career on Broadway, appearing in the initial run of the musical Grease in 1972 playing the role of Marty Maraschino for more than two years. She also racked up a significant credit as a writer on a number of soaps, stepping behind the camera on The Young and the Restless after her character was phased out. In the interview in 1985, Bennett opened up about the differences in her approach to acting and writing. She said, "I'll admit, acting makes me a little crazy sometimes: You wait to audition. You wait for the part. When you're writing, you're in control. I can initiate things on my own when I'm writing." Bennett is survived by her spouse of 19 years Robert Guza Jr., as well as two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Meg Ryan is back after a "giant break"

Meg Ryan is back and she has spilled it all, ahead of her first rom-com release in nearly 15 years. In an interview with People Magazine, the When Harry Met Sally star revealed the reason why she took a step back from her career. "I took a giant break because I felt like there's just so many other parts of my experience as a human being I wanted to develop," she told the outlet. "It's nice to think of it as a job and not a lifestyle. And that is a great way of navigating it for me." The 61-year-old also shared the inspiration behind her first rom-com What Happens Later, which she directed, wrote and starred in. "It came to me during lockdown," she gushed. "The essence of it is these two people who are stuck together. I just love that idea that we're held in a space, even if it feels conflicted, maybe for reasons that heal them." This is the first rom-com that she has acted in for over a decade, with her last film in that genre being Serious Moonlight back in 2009. In another another conversation with Interview magazine's Carol Burnett, she opened up about the process of making her film. "Truly, the easiest part was acting in it," she told the publication. "I want to direct again just so I can sit in the chair, because I’m sure there’s a lot of things I missed." "I hadn’t done a role in a really long time, but it was fun with David," she added, referring to co-star David Duchovny, known for his role as Fox Mulder in The X Files. "A lot of it was done in two shots. I’m proud of that. I set up everything beforehand so that once we were there, it was just David and I trying to tell the truth." She revealed that the film was assembled together with a very "deliberate" process and a budget of only $3 million. "We had to do it really quickly. A lot of those extras weren’t even ours, they were real people," she said. "We went back in post and made everybody the same palette. There’s a lot of stuff you can do digitally now, thank god." The actress first shot to fame in 1980 for her girl-next-door image, after playing the love interest in iconic films like the original Top Gun and When Harry Met Sally. Images: Getty Images/ Edward Berthelot/WireImage

Movies

Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jose-valentino-ruiz-1293457">Jose Valentino Ruiz</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> In the history of American popular music, there have been few luminaries as enduring and innovative as Tony Bennett. With a career that spanned almost 80 years, Bennett’s smooth tones, unique phrasing and visionary musical collaborations left an indelible mark on vocal jazz and the recording industry as a whole. That his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-bennett-dies-c3b3a7e2360449fb936a38794c7c3266">death at the age of 96</a> on July 21, 2023, was mourned by artists as varied as <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1682395658395824133">Keith Urban</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/OzzyOsbourne/status/1682411338340126720">Ozzy Osbourne</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryConnickJR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1682411086656557056%7Ctwgr%5E04a78435a793b5246d7bc19e09529f2b2f0bcfab%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2023%2Fmusic%2Fnews%2Ftony-bennett-elton-john-reaction-tribute-1235676405%2F">Harry Connick Jr.</a> should come as no surprise. Yes, Bennett was a jazz crooner. But if his voice was always a constant – even late into his 80s, way past an age when most other singers have seen their vocal abilities diminish – then his embrace of the contemporary was every bit a facet of Bennett’s appeal. <h2>Vocal innovator</h2> Bennett’s journey is a testament to the power of daring innovation. From the early days of his career in the 1950s to his final recordings in the early 2020s, he fearlessly explored new musical territories, revolutionizing vocal jazz and captivating audiences across generations. His vocal style and phrasing were distinctive and set him apart from other artists of his time. He utilized a delayed or “laid-back” approach to falling on the note, a technique known as “<a href="https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/rubato/">rubato</a>.” This created a sense of anticipation in his phrasing, adding an element of surprise to his performances. Through Bennett’s skilled use of rubato, he was able to play with the tempo and rhythm of a song, bending and stretching musical phrases to evoke a range of emotions. This subtle manipulation of timing gave his songs a natural and conversational quality, making listeners feel as though he was intimately sharing his stories with them. Armed with this silky, playful voice, Bennett found fame fairly early on in his career, delivering jazz standards alongside the likes of Mel Tormé and Nat King Cole. By the mid-1960s, he was being touted by Frank Sinatra as “the best singer in the business.” But his musical style fell out of fashion in the 1970s – a lean period during which Bennett <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/07/21/tony-bennett-son-life-career-drugs/">almost succumbed to a drug overdose</a>. Then, in the 1990s, Bennett found a new audience and set off a series of collaborations with contemporary musical stars that would become the standard for his later career. No genre of artistry was deemed off-limits for Bennett. “<a href="https://www.tonybennett.com/music-detail.php?id=11">Duets: An American Classic</a>,” released to coincide with his 80th birthday in 2006, saw collaborations with country stars such as k.d. lang and the Dixie Chicks – now known as the Chicks – and soul legend Stevie Wonder, alongside kindred jazz spirits such as Diana Krall. “Duets II,” a 2011 follow-up, saw further explorations with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Willie Nelson and Amy Winehouse, in what would become the <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/amy-winehouse-final-recording-session/">British singer’s last recording</a>. But his cross-generational, cross-genre and cross-cultural appeal is perhaps best exemplified by his <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/arts/music/tony-bennett-lady-gaga.html">collaborations with Lady Gaga</a>, first on the 2014 Grammy-winning album “Cheek to Cheek.” The recording brought together two artists from different generations, genres and backgrounds, uniting them in a harmonious celebration of jazz classics. The collaboration not only showcased each one’s vocal prowess, but also sent a powerful message about the unifying nature of music. Lady Gaga, a pop artist with avant-garde leanings, might have seemed an unlikely partner for Bennett, the quintessential jazz crooner. Yet their musical chemistry and mutual admiration resulted in an album that mesmerized audiences worldwide. “Cheek to Cheek” effortlessly transcended musical boundaries, while the duo’s magnetic stage presence and undeniable talent enchanted listeners. The successful fusion of jazz and pop encouraged artists to experiment beyond traditional boundaries, leading to more cross-genre projects across the industry – proving that such projects could go beyond one-off novelties, and be profitable at that. <h2>Timeless artistry</h2> Bennett’s embrace of contemporary artists did not mean that he abandoned his own musical self. By blending traditional jazz with contemporary elements, he managed to captivate audiences across generations, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners. One key aspect of Bennett’s success was his ability to embody the sentiment of old America, reminiscent of artists like Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, while infusing contemporary nuances that resonated with the human condition of a more modern era. His approach to music captured both the essence and struggle of America, giving his songs a timeless and universal appeal. Moreover, his voice conveyed familiarity and comfort, akin to listening to a beloved uncle. Bennett’s albums stood out not only for his soulful voice and impeccable delivery but also for the way he drew others from varied musical backgrounds into his world of jazz sensibilities. As a producer, he recognized the importance of nurturing creativity and bringing out the best in artists. Meanwhile, Bennett’s approach to evolving his own sound while preserving its essence sets him apart as an artist. Fearless in his pursuit of innovation, he delved into contemporary musical elements and collaborated with producers to infuse new sonic dimensions into his later albums. The result drew listeners into an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kNpdLZwetU">intimate and immersive, concert-like acoustic journey</a>. <h2>Depth of emotion</h2> The greats in music have an ability to speak to the human experience. And either in collaboration with others or on his own, Bennett was able to achieve this time and time again. His albums were successful not only due to their technical brilliance and musicality but also because Bennett’s voice conveyed a depth of emotion that transcended barriers of time and culture, touching the hearts of listeners from various backgrounds. There was a universality in his music that made him a beloved and revered artist across the globe. Bennett’s life spanned decades of societal upheavals in the United States. But in his music, listeners could always find beauty in challenging times. And as the 20th- and 21st-century American music industry went through its own revolutions, Bennett’s artistic evolution mirrored the changes, cementing his place as a music icon who defies the boundaries of time and trends.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210244/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2UxxnhUE5YLchYgutxKEbJ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" loading="lazy"></iframe> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jose-valentino-ruiz-1293457">Jose Valentino Ruiz</a>, Program Director of Music Business & Entrepreneurship, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tony-bennett-the-timeless-visionary-who-with-a-nod-to-americas-musical-heritage-embraced-the-future-210244">original article</a>.

Music

Neighbours star's AVO nightmare after magistrate’s “wrong” call

Former Neighbours star Madeleine West has won an appeal to overturn an AVO taken out against her on behalf of the father of her ex-husband, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett. West, 42, was described by a magistrate as “evasive, almost aggressive and frightening” when giving evidence about an altercation involving her ex-husband’s father Benny Clifton Bennet at his son’s Byron Bay home on May 4 2022. The AVO was granted after the Local Court hearing. However, West appealed the decision in the NSW District Court after being granted a temporary stay on the two-year order, which bans her from Bennett’s Byron Bay property while her father-in-law comes to visit her children. Although the Local Court found West had “barged” onto her ex-husband’s property, Judge Jonathan Priestly ruled the magistrate had made a “wrong” decision based on “erroneous finding”. Judge Priestly found Bennett’s father was acting out of loyalty for his son during the incident. West’s lawyers amid the appeal argued that the magistrates “erred in finding the fears of the older Mr Bennett were reasonably based”. They claimed the conduct, taking the surrounding circumstances into consideration “did not amount to harassment”. The judge said the grandfather’s “fear of harassment” was an outcome of being “distressingly” caught in the middle of a dispute between his son and West. He admitted to the court that he had spoken to her amicably one day before the alleged “barging”. Bennett’s father described West as “uncontrollable” and “irrational”, but Judge Priestly said these claims were not supported by CCTV footage. “I accept that the magistrate was wrong to find that the appellant (West) barged into the property,” he ruled. “A number of errors of the magistrate have been identified. By basing her decision on those erroneous findings her Honour’s decision is wrong.” Judge Priestley found Bennett's father had been “unwittingly involved” by his son and the chances of reoccurring disputes were “negligible”. “There is no need for the order,” the judge said. The AVO was dismissed and Judge Priestly called on lawyers to prepare arguments on costs to be heard in July. West was on Neighbours for six years over two periods of time, from 2000 to 2003 and 2017 to 2020. She appeared in hundreds of episodes as characters Dee Bliss and then Andrew Somers. West was hit by a bus while filming for the soap and suffered head injuries which resulted in her having to relearn motor skills. Image credit: Instagram

Legal

Rare sighting as famous friends step out in support of Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox has been joined by a host of his famous friends for a screening of his upcoming documentary. The new documentary explores the Back to the Future star's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease, and the changes in his life and condition as he gets older. In a show of support for the actor, his celebrity mates joined together for a screening of Still at New York's Lincoln Center. Among the famous faces was actress Meg Ryan, who has not been spotted in public for more than six months. The former rom-com queen, best known for starring roles in films like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, lives a more quiet life outside of the spotlight these days. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tracy Pollan (@tracy.pollan)</a> </div> </blockquote> Ryan hasn’t appeared on screen since the 2015 film Ithaca, which she also directed. However, she is plotting a return to screens later this year, with Ryan starring in and directing the film What Happens Later, which is currently in production. Ryan was among a star-studded group of famous friends supporting J. Fox for the premiere of his doco, with stars including Bill Murray, Denis Leary, Joan Jett, Katie Couric, Mariska Hargitay, and Debra Messing. The screening of the documentary comes after Michael J. Fox <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> that his battle with the disease is getting more difficult. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna be 80,” he said in a preview for an upcoming episode of the American current affairs program CBS Sunday Morning, according to Page Six. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">In the clip, Journalist Jane Pauley tells Fox that he has “not squandered” but that his condition will eventually “make the call” as to when it’s his time to go. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“Yeah, it’s, it’s banging on the door,” the actor said. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher.” <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Image credits: Instagram

Caring

Tony Bennett's emotional final show with Lady Gaga

Tony Bennett has taken to the stage of Radio City Music Hall in his emotional finale New York performances. Joined with special guest Lady Gaga, the 95-year-old celebrated his birthday by leaving his heart on the stage for his devoted audience. The show took place in August, six months after Tony and his family revealed he is suffering from Alzheimer's. Now, the rest of the world has a chance to experience the TV special, One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, which aired in the US on Sunday night. Tony Bennett sang all of his signature songs, including I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Fly Me to the Moon and Steppin' Out With My Baby, before signing a number of duets with Lady Gaga. Some of Tony's family members have admitted that since his diagnosis, he often doesn't know where he is or what is happening around him. But, on the stage in New York City, the legendary performer was in his element and didn't miss a beat. Lady Gaga belted out her own rendition of New York, New York before Tony took to the stage, as she teared up to introduce him. "He's my friend. He's my musical companion. And he's the greatest singer in the whole world. And I'm counting on you, New York, to make him smile. So you better cheer. You better yell. You better laugh. You better cry. You better give your soul," she said. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CW15vNishM8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CW15vNishM8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by CBS (@cbstv)</a> </div> </blockquote> Walking on stage, Tony was greeted with a standing ovation before singing a single note. Throughout the evening, the audience stood and applauded the legendary performer, as they sang along to all of his classic hits. Although Tony feels at home on the stage, his wife Susan told 60 Minutes they were unsure if the show was going to go ahead due to his health. But Susan said that once she saw him onstage that night, she knew everything would be just fine. "He became himself. He just turned on. It was like a light switch," she told 60 Minutes in a segment that aired last month. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2EbJyMPeU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CW2EbJyMPeU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to Bennett's neurologist Dr Gayatri Devi, this is because music and performing are so ingrained in Tony's mind. "People respond differently based on their strengths. In Tony's case, it's his musical memory his ability to be a performer. Those are an innate and hardwired part of his brain," Devi said on 60 Minutes. "So even though he doesn't know what the day might be, or where his apartment is, he still can sing the whole repertoire of the American Songbook and move people." Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Tony Bennett sets a new Guinness World Record

Grammy Award-winning singer Tony Bennett has set a new <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/10/legendary-tony-bennett-officially-the-oldest-person-to-release-an-album-of-new-ma-678310" target="_blank">Guinness World Record</a>. The music legend has released a collaboration with Lady Gaga titled Love for Sale, making Bennett the oldest person to release an album of new material. When the project was released on October 1st, Tony Bennett was 95 years and 60 days old. Despite their 60-year age gap, Lady Gaga said she finds inspiration performing alongside the senior crooner. "I see a young boy every time I sing with him, and it just makes the experience of singing so freeing." "To have it be about two souls singing together ... and then at the same time, I also take in all his wisdom. The wisdom of all his years." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsr56LPOFf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUsr56LPOFf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)</a> </div> </blockquote> The new album celebrates the legendary music of Cole Porter, bringing Bennett and Gaga together for another collaboration. In 2011, they recorded the song The Lady is a Tramp, and three years later they released a collaborative album entitled Cheek to Cheek. Tony Bennett's latest world record is not the first time the singer has appeared in the Guinness books. Throughout his 70-year career, he holds four other records: <ul> <li>Oldest person to reach No.1 on the US album chart with a newly recorded album for Cheek to Cheek.</li> <li>Longest time between UK top 20 albums: 39 years.</li> <li>Oldest person to enter the UK top 20 album chart with Duets: An American Classic when he was 80.</li> <li>Longest time between the release of an original recording and a re-recording of the same single by the same artist.</li> </ul> Image credits: Getty Images

Music

“He doesn’t know he has it”: Susan Benedetto on Tony Bennett’s diagnosis

Susan Benedetto, Tony Bennett’s wife, has revealed that the musical icon “doesn’t know” he has Alzheimer’s disease. The 95-year-old singer appeared on the US 60 Minutes with Benedetto and interviewer Anderson Cooper, as the show followed his final on-stage appearance with Lady Gaga in August. “He recognises me, thank goodness, his children, you know we are blessed in a lot of ways,” Benedetto <a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/tony-bennett-alzheimers-disease-not-aware-wife-susan-benedetto-60-minutes-interview/8379c29a-a893-43ed-9fe9-13d4a8ec908f" target="_blank">told Cooper</a>. “He’s very sweet.” Referring to his Alzheimer’s, Benedetto said, “He doesn’t know he has it.” Bennett’s family revealed in February that he had been living with the disease. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.0304449648712px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844677/despite-his-alzheimers-tony-bennett-prepares-to-perform-with-lady-gaga-1-37-screenshot.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d41867ee644a4ca2b31bbbe1f6f317bd" /> Image: 60 Minutes / YouTube Benedetto previously said Bennett was unable to understand what the disease is. “He would ask me, ‘What is Alzheimer’s?’ I would explain, but he wouldn’t get it,” she told AARP Magazine earlier this year. “He’d tell me, ‘Susan, I feel fine’. That’s all he could process - that physically he felt great. So, nothing changed in his life. Anything that did change, he wasn’t aware of.” Bennett was first diagnosed in 2017, after he became concerned with his memory a year earlier. “We came home one night and he said, ‘Susan,’ he said, ‘I’m having a hard time remembering the names of the musicians [who he works with]’,” Benedetto said. “And so it was unusual and I said, ‘Well do you wanna go see a doctor about it?’ and he said, ‘I do’.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Tune in to <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@60Minutes</a> tonight at 7pm ET/PT on CBS for my conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/andersoncooper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@andersoncooper</a> about Love For Sale and my dear friend <a href="https://twitter.com/itstonybennett?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@itstonybennett</a>. ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/UQDfYbThDy">pic.twitter.com/UQDfYbThDy</a> — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/1444770602024267779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2021</a></blockquote> When Cooper asked Lady Gaga if she thought Bennett’s last performance was “a sad story”, she shared her thoughts on working with the icon. “It’s not a sad story,” she said. “It’s emotional. It’s hard to watch somebody change. I think what’s been beautiful about this, and what’s been challenging, is to see how it affects him in some ways, but to see how it doesn’t affect his talent. “I think he really pushed through something to give the world the gift of knowing that things can change and you can still be magnificent.” Gaga and Bennett performed at two sold-out concerts in celebration of his 95th birthday and their second and final album together, Love for Sale. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Tony, this is the last album we will have created together, but the celebration of jazz, and us as musical companions, will live on with me forever. We offer the public “Love For Sale” for free love, to make them smile, because that’s what we’re here for. ❤️ Love, LG <a href="https://t.co/VP6QifdrHA">pic.twitter.com/VP6QifdrHA</a> — Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/1438714751165480961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2021</a></blockquote> When asked about the recording process, Gaga told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/10/04/lady-gaga-talks-tony-bennett-alzheimers-love-for-sale/5979884001/" target="_blank">USA Today</a> it was “hard” to talk about, but “it’s important during times like this to be authentic and share the pain of the realities of what it’s like to have a loved one have Alzheimer’s or dementia”. “I really extend my heart to people going through a similar situation.” See an excerpt of Bennett, Benedetto and Gaga’s appearance on 60 Minutes here. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yNrvXw9juNs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image: @itstonybennett / Instagram

Mind

Tony Bennett reveals fight against Alzheimer’s disease

Tony Bennett has revealed he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but refuses to give up the fight. "Life is a gift — even with Alzheimer's. Thank you to [his wife] Susan and my family for their support, and AARP the Magazine for telling my story," he wrote on social media. The 94-year-old was diagnosed with the disease in 2016, but has proven even the lingering disease did not stop him as he released his chart-topping duets album with Lady Gaga, Cheek to Cheek in 2015. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Life is a gift - even with Alzheimer’s. Thank you to Susan and my family for their support, and <a href="https://twitter.com/AARP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AARP</a> The Magazine for telling my story. Read more here:<a href="https://t.co/R05A4jc5BF">https://t.co/R05A4jc5BF</a>⁰ 📸 Kelsey Bennett <a href="https://t.co/ApxBCpGv0y">pic.twitter.com/ApxBCpGv0y</a> — Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) <a href="https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/1356232201810157568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote> The star’s son, Danny Bennett, released a heartfelt statement: "Managing my father for the last 40 years has been a privilege and an amazing journey. He never ceases to inspire me with his passion and dedication to all that life has to offer. The last four years has been no exception. “He continues to sing and stay fit on a daily basis. I speak for the whole family in thanking his wonderful wife Susan for all the support and love she has given to him. Our wish is that by openly sharing his challenges with Alzheimer's That we will give hope to all that face this condition and will help end the stigma surrounding this disease. “Above all else, we want to be able to help raise awareness, advocate for advancing new therapies and one day soon, finding a cure." Alzheimer's can result in progressive memory loss that deprives its sufferers of speech, understanding, treasured memories or recognition of loved ones. While it is understood Bennett has not developed many of the worst characteristics of the disease which can include episodes of rage or depression, he does have a tendency to forget where he is. "One of the cruellest aspects of dementia is the stigma that surrounds it," Sarah Lock, AARP senior vice president for brain health, said. "Feelings of hopelessness can cause people to resist getting diagnosed or refuse treatment. Although there's currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there's a lot that people can do to delay symptoms and improve quality of life."

Music

Harry and Meg are back! Royal couple open up about holiday abroad

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were welcomed back to work with open arms and cheers as they returned from their extended holiday in Vancouver, Canada The couple hit the ground running with a day of public and private engagements, including a trip to Canada House as a way to thank Canadians for their “hospitality and support” that the family received while visiting Vancouver Island. Before arriving at Canada House though, both Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan made a private visit to see the Hubb Community Kitchen in west London as the Duchess wanted to check in with the women there. The royals first formed a formidable bond with them when she first visited the kitchen, which was set up in the aftermath of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, secretly before her wedding to Prince Harry. A crowd had gathered by 3 p.m. at Trafalgar Square to welcome the royal couple. Staff from the High Commission were also outside the building. Duchess Meghan went on to describe her holiday in Vancouver with Prince Harry and baby Archie as “beautiful.” Consular assistant Sumira Osmin, from Ontario, said about Harry and Meghan: “They are just beautiful, and just their aura, and they’re always so positive...They’re very caring.” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex saw a special exhibition in the Canada Gallery by female Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennatti. The Canadian High Commissioner to the U.K., Janice Charette, told T&C it was “an exhibit which spans both the history and tradition as well as the future which is a very unique approach and very creative.” The High Commissioner said the royal couple’s visit was a “chance to catch up, hear a bit about their visit to Canada and their holidays in Canada, and their impressions.” She added that she discussed with them “what they see in terms of their priorities for the next year”. “There’s a lot of areas where they have interests which are also priorities for Canada.” Charette said she thought there “will be some opportunities for us to think about Canada House and the Sussexes doing some interesting work together,” and mentioned topics including gender equality and gender empowerment, homelessness, mental health and youth engagement, She also mentioned the couple’s down time over their break. “The fact that they were able to go to Canada to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family and basically to have privacy and be undisturbed and to be able to enjoy peace and tranquility and the beautiful country, I couldn’t be happier,” she said. The Sussexes are expected to make further announcements about upcoming engagements shortly. This year the royal couple will be focusing on their foundation Sussex. Scroll through the gallery to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their first day back at work.

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