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Tony Bennett celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday (August 3rd 2016) and with it came news that he's planning on recording another album with Lady GaGa, with whom he released the number one record 'Cheek To Cheek' in 2014. It's not clear whether this time it'll be original songs, or another covers series.

Tony Bennett to re-unite with Lady Gaga?

The veteran pop standards crooner reflects on not just 90 years on the planet, but 65 years in the music industry which has seen him win 19 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmys, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and New York City's Bronze Medallion. His most recent known work is Bill Charlap collaboration 'The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern', but before that he topped the US charts with 2014's 'Cheek to Cheek' alongside Lady Gaga; an album of classic tunes which he hints they might follow-up soon.

Continue reading: Tony Bennett Hits 90 And Reveals Plans For New Lady Gaga Album

Tributes have been paid to singer Natalie Cole, who has died aged 65. Cole’s death was announced on Friday in a statement from her her son Robert Yancy and sisters Timolin and Casey Cole, who said she had fought a fierce, courageous battle in her final days.

Natalie Cole has died aged 65.

"It is with heavy hearts that we bring to you all the news of our mother and sister's passing,” the statement read. "Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived..with dignity, strength and honour."

Continue reading: Tributes Pour In For Natalie Cole, Who Has Died Aged 65

As Billboard’s Woman of the Year, it’s fair to say that Lady GaGa has enjoyed a pretty successful 2015, which has seen the ‘Born This Way; singer back on top. But the 29-year-old has revealed that just one year ago she considered quitting music altogether, after feeling as if she’d been written off.

Billboard’s Woman of the Year, Lady Gaga.

Speaking to Billboard as part of their Woman of the Year cover story, Gaga said: “At the end of 2014, my stylist asked, ‘Do you even want to be a pop star anymore?’ I looked at him and I go, ‘You know, if I could just stop this train right now, today, I would. I just can’t. [But] I need to get off now because I’m going to die.’”

Continue reading: Lady Gaga Reveals She Nearly Quit Pop Music In 2014

Infamously eccentric Lady Gaga and smooth aged crooner Tony Bennett may appear to make unlikely friends, but in recent interviews the two have expressed their great affection for one another and close bond. The pair first met in 2010 and, after releasing a rendition of 'The Lady Is a Tramp' back in 2011, decided to create an album of Jazz covers together entitled Cheek to Cheek.

Lady GaGa at Harper's Baazar Celebrates Icons By Carine Rotifield in New York last week.

Read More: Lady Gaga Jazzes Up New York Fashion Week & Drops A Few Expletives Along The Way.

Continue reading: Lady Gaga "Didn't Want To Sing Anymore" Until Tony Bennett "Saved" Her

At 97, Vera Lynn is set to become the oldest artist to release an album, when her new work ‘Vera Lynn: National Treasure - the Ultimate Collection’, is released. While Vera might be the oldest artist still making albums she’s not the only one to prove that advancing years is no reason to stop making music. Take these five for example.

Dame Vera Lynn

Doris Day

Continue reading: Vera Lynn And More Of The Oldest Music Makers

Carol Burnett was recognised for her decades-long achievements in the entertainment industry with the prestigious Mark Twain Award. The 80-year-old singer, actress, satirist and comedienne was honoured in front of friends, family and admirers at the event, held in NWashington D.C.'s Kennedy Centre on Sunday, 20 October.

The ear-tugging Burnett became the 16th recipient of the Mark Twain Award

"I'm overwhelmed, totally overwhelmed," the star of the long-running The Carol Burnett Show told reporters prior to the start the award ceremony (via Reuters). "I just hope after tonight they'll knock me down a few pegs because I think I'm getting a really big head."

Continue reading: Carol Burnett's Career Of Comedy And Light Entertainment Honoured With Mark Twain Award

Paul McCartney told an auditorium full of high schoolers, "this beats going to class," after unexpectedly taking to the stage during a surprise assembly at a performing arts high school in Astoria, Queens on Thursday, 10 October. Singing along with the hits, new and old, the 400 students ushered into the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts' auditorium seemed to totally agree with this statement, as Paul and his band delivered a full, 13-song performance and Q&A session with the students.

Paul performed an impromptu show in New York earlier in the week prior to his Astoria show

With a few samples from his upcoming album, New, Paul and co. also performed some of The Beatles and Wings' most beloved tracks in front of a crowd that also included Tony Bennett, who opened the performance school in 2001. Paul wife, Nancy Shevell, was also in attendance, on the day of their second year anniversary. The date also marked what would have been the 73rd birthday of John Lennon, so there really was cause for celebration, and the students of the Queens high school got to be right at the heart of the celebrations. The show itself was filmed by iHeartRadio, who will make the performance available to stream through Yahoo! on Monday, 14 October.

Continue reading: Paul McCartney Surprises NYC High School With Impromptu Performance

Last night (April 22, 2013), Barbra Streisand was the centre of attention at the Lincoln Center in New York. The 70 year old actress, singer, and filmmaker received the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s 40th annual Chaplin award, CBC News reports. Throughout the evening, tribute was paid to the star, with a variety of musical lumanaries taking to the stage to praise her work, or sending in video messages that were played to those gathered for the glitzy event.

“Ever since I can remember, people have been calling me bossy and opinionated," Streisand said, accepting the award. “Maybe that's because I am. Three cheers for bossy women!" she declared, sparking roars from the star-studded audience. Streisand has won Oscar awards, Tony awards and Emmys for various aspects of her work but last night was solely focused on the entirety of her show-business career. “Thank God I was given a good voice,” she joked.

Paying tribute to the star were the jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, along with singers Liza Minnelli and Tony Bennett. Her former movie co-stars, Omar Sharif, Blythe Danner, Ben Stiller and Robert Redford all chipped in with warm words about the actress. Even President Bill Clinton had a thing or two to say: “Every great person is driven," friend and former U.S. president Bill Clinton said onstage. But if that person has massive talent, big brains and a bigger heart, you want to go along for the ride." 

Continue reading: 'Three Cheers For Bossy Women' - Barbra Streisand's Film Career Toasted At Lincoln Centre

Legendary New York crooner Tony Bennett is to record his next album with Lady GaGa. The somewhat unlikely pair collaborated on 'The Lady Is A Tramp' for Bennett's Grammy-winning 'Duets II' album, and although they're yet to hit the studio, Bennett says he "can't wait" to record his next album with the Born This Way singer. Bennett confirmed the news after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Amy Winehouse Foundation on Thursday (March 20, 2013), calling the new record "a big swing album."

After developing his singing technique following a stint in the U.S. Army during World War II, Bennett signed with Columbia Records and had his first number one with 'Because Of You' in 1951. Further hits followed including Rags To Riches and Bennett peaked in the late 1950s with albums The Beat of My Heart, Basie Swings and Bennett Sings. The New York rock music era led to his music suffering an extended downturn, though few could deny Bennett's class and the singer staged an eventual comeback in the late 1980s and 1990's, putting out gold selling records and winning a slew of Grammy awards. 

Continue reading: Tony Bennett To Record "Big Swing Album" With Lady Gaga

Just as Quentin Tarantino was quizzed relentlessly about America's gun laws ahead of the release of Django Unchained, this week it was Bruce Willis' turn to defend the use of firearms in his new movie, A Good Day To Die Hard. Whereas the acclaimed director shrugged off the questioning with consummate ease, Willis was only too happy to comment and gave a pretty surprising answer.

Most Hollywood liberal types are pretty keen to back President Obama's gun-law proposals, though Willis remains cautious. "I think that you can't start to pick apart anything out of the Bill of Rights without thinking that it's all going to become undone," the actor told the Associated Press. "If you take one out or change one law, then why wouldn't they take all your rights away from you?" Willis - whose films have grossed over $2 billion in North American alone - reprises his most famous character John McClane in the fifth instalment of the Die Hard franchise, hitting theaters on February 14, 2013. The Hollywood hard-man makes a living out of shooting bad guys, though Willis played down a link between Hollywood and massacres such as those in Connecticut and Colorado last year. "No one commits a crime because they saw a film. There's nothing to support that," Willis said. "We're not making movies about people that have gone berserk, or gone nuts. Those kind of movies wouldn't last very long at all."

The likes of Tony Bennett, Chris Rock and Amanda Peet spoke in favour of President Obama's gun-law proposals at an event in Washington DC on Wednesday (February 6, 2013). 

Continue reading: Yippie Ki-Yay! Die Hard's Bruce Willis Defends Right To Own Guns

President Barack Obama’s Inaugural celebrations for his second term in office were one hell of a shindig. To round it all off, he held an Inaugural ball, for his campaign staffers. For the paltry sum of $10, not only did they get to celebrate with the President and his First Lady themselves, but they were treated to performances from Tony Bennett and Lady GaGa. Yup. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. For $10. Makes you wish you’d signed up to join the campaign team, doesn’t it?

The two singers duetted, with ‘The Lady Is A Tramp,’ although Gaga was looking far from tramp-like, in her wedding-dress style gown, with typically elaborate detailing, including huge puffed-up sleeves. Gaga then went on to sit at the customized, white winged piano, according to Ace Showbiz and played some of her hits, including ‘the Edge of Glory,’ ‘Born This Way’ and ‘You and I.’ Michelle Obama seemed particularly thrilled at the evening’s entertainment. When her husband introduced the two singers, Michelle broke out into a little dance, causing the president to remark “it’s been a long weekend. She’s getting a little silly now.”

Watch Lady Gaga perform at the Inaugural Ball

Continue reading: President Obama's Inaugural Celebrations Rounded Off With Lady Gaga And Tony Bennett

All eyes will be on Bruce Springsteen during Grammy’s week, as the New Jersey rocker will be the recipient of the MusiCares Person of the Year award. To celebrate the honour, a Bruce Springsteen tribute concert will take place in Los Angeles on February 8, 2013, featuring some of the biggest names in rock and pop and hosted by Jon Stewart.

The event, which is already sold out, will feature musical highlights such as Elton John, Kenny Chesney and Mumford And Sons. A whole host of musicians of varying genres and eras have been included in the line-up. Patti Smith, with whom Bruce co-wrote the hit ‘Because The Night’ will be there, as will Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, as well as Alabama Shakes, Eddie Vedder and Neil Young. Proceeds for the concert will go to MusiCares, an organisation set up to provide support for struggling musicians in financial, medical and personal need.

The annual MusiCares Person of the Year award is attributed to a star whose artistic accomplishments are as worthy of merit as their philanthropic work. Previous winners of the award include Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney and Bono.

Children's charity UNICEF has hosted a black tie gala every winter since 2005 called the Snowflake Ball, "to celebrate the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflakes and to honor those whose philanthropic commitments support its mission to save children's lives," the official UNICEF website states. In 7 short years the event has raised a massive $16m for their causes and continued to do so last night. In attendance were two of Hollywood's brunette beauties, Katy Perry and Selena Gomez.

Both stars opted for particularly festive outfits, though nothing outlandish. Their dresses were navy and black but were embellished by sparkly detail that picked up the lights of the room. Selena went for a backless Dolce and Gabbana halterneck number, while Katy Perry's Naeem Khan gown was semi-translucent with floral cut out lace, reports the Mirror. 

Uma Thurman and Tony Bennett also attended the event and many celebs opted to tweet their continued support of the massive philanthropic ventures of the charity and its benefactors. 

Continue reading: UNICEF Snowflake's Belles And Beasts Of The Ball: Katy Perry, Selena Gomez And Donald Trump?

Even at the ripe old age of 86, Tony Bennett is still more active than most mid-twenty-year-olds. He has one of the longest musical careers that is still alive and kicking, and has still yet more planned. Tomorrow sees the release of a detailed documentary about his life, created by his son Dan Bennett, called 'Zen of Bennett'.

The film includes a portion dedicated Bennett's relationship with Amy Winehouse, with whom he recorded her last duet before she died. The film will coincide with the release of his third album of duets, entitled 'Viva Duets'. This latest album is a collection of duets with the world's best Latino artists. In an interview with TIME he spoke about the recording process, saying "We [went] where they live, so each record took a couple of days of getting to know them, meeting their managers and their friends, and they became great relationships." He said, "They're really tremendous artists, each one of them."

He seemed even more excited, however, about another upcoming project with Lady GaGa. "Lady Gaga called me from Australia and she said, "I want to do a jazz album with you."" The impressive octogenarian revealed, "So we're going to doing it with Marion Evans, the great orchestrator. We're going to have a big swinging album." He sang high praise for the quirky singer, "I call her the Musical Picasso. She's so creative and she changes every two minutes" he said. Later, he revealed that there was nothing in his entire back catalogue (which is incredibly extensive) that he regrets, hopefully Gaga wont put an end that immense 60 year streak and will prove to be another triumph with another of pop's biggest character's.

Continue reading: Zen Of Bennett - The Most Active Man In Showbiz Tony Bennett Talks Lady Gaga

John Travolta has been reunited with his Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John, for a forthcoming Christmas album, entitled 'This Christmas.' It's something of a surprise move from the actor, who has been busily defending himself against sexual assault claims and allegations that he is a closet homosexual. We're thinking that if he was really trying to prove to people that he's not gay, releasing a Christmas album with a ridiculously camp photograph of himself sharing a cup of tea (or coffee, maybe. or something else. we're not quite sure) with Olivia Newton-John possibly wasn't the strongest part of his game plan.

Music Fix and NineMSN.com have quoted Travolta as saying "My desire was to make This Christmas an intimate album, not something too ostentatious or showy." To achieve this aim, he invited Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Cliff Richard and Kenny G to join him as guests on the album. Um, not ostentatious or showy at all, then, John? He added "I wanted people to be able to play it around the house or in the car during the holidays, and make us part of your celebration." Olivia added that it was a struggle getting the recording done, in amongst their hectic work lives: "It just fell into place. With our busy schedules, I don't know how we got it done. John and I have always connected. That's never gone away. When we're together, we have a good laugh and feel bonded to one another. We've been through some amazing experiences together."

Ostentatious or not, at least it's all for a good cause; proceeds from the album sales will go to the Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John will once again be multiplying chills with a new Christmas album, reports Entertainment Weekly. The proposed album will also feature the vocal talents of Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand and Kenny G.

Christmas just comes earlier and earlier each year, doesn't it? It won't be long before Christmas cards are sold in the summer months and trees become freeze-able to be taken out on December 1st. Greece stars Travolta and Newton-John have kicked X-Mas mania off in early October this year, by announcing their reunification to collaborate on a Christmas album. "We all felt a wonderful, joyful energy while recording this album," Newton-John said in a statement. "We want to make a lot of people smile and happy. It's a project that we're hoping turns into a perennial, one that can continue to raise money for these causes year after year, a gift that keeps on giving." Diehard fans of their classic film, which shot the pair to stardom, will be delighted to learn that a You're the One That I Want 'sequel' will be on the festive record, entitled I Think You Might Like It, written John Farrar who also penned the original.

The guaranteed Christmas stocking success will be available on November 13th, 2012, but here's the track listing.

Continue reading: John Travolta And Olivia Newton-John Back With A Christmas Album!

Tributes to Andy Williams have been led today by fellow crooner Tony Christie. Andy Williams has died, aged 84, following a year-long battle against bladder cancer. He was best known for his rendition of the song ‘Moon River’ but had many other hits, including ‘Raindrops Are Falling on My Head’ and ‘Music To Watch Girls By.’ Tony Christie told BBC News that Williams was “up there with Sinatra, Bennett,” referring to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. “I enjoyed a chat with him backstage at the Royal Albert Hall some years ago,” Christie added, “and he was a lovely man, very gentle…he was a pleasure to have met.”

Williams’ influence spread far and wide; many of the songs that he recorded and performed have become staples in the musical upbringings of several generations. The composer Don Black, who wrote ‘Born Free’ (another classic Williams track) said that he was the “ultimate professional… He was a great guy, he was very professional but didn't take himself too seriously. That type of performer doesn't exist anymore. It's gradually becoming the end of an era.”

It’s not just Williams’ contemporaries that have been paying tribute to the late singer though; Tim Burgess, the singer of The Charlatans, said “Andy Williams was a real smooth guy, that's for sure. Rest in peace, Andy.” The Radio One DJ Zoe Ball also posted a touching message on her Twitter page, to say “what a chap. May his star always shine bright.”