Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and More to Perform in NBC Tony Bennett Tribute Concert
Photo by D Dipasupil/GettyToday, Tony Bennett, 19-time Grammy winner, painter, and World War II veteran, turns 90 years old. To celebrate the milestone, NBC is producing Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come, a tribute concert that will air in December featuring performances of Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, all with the man himself, per Variety.
NBC aired a special celebrating Bennett’s 80th birthday, so “it only seemed fitting that we stop and pay tribute to his 90th,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman at NBC Entertainment. “Happy birthday, Tony, your achievements are epic and your voice has been the soundtrack of four generations. We and the entire music business are in awe.”
Wonder, Elton John, Diana Krall and Michael Bublé, who all performed in 2006’s Tony Bennett: An American Classic, will be returning to celebrate Bennett, along with Andrea Bocelli, Billy Joel, k.d. lang and Rufus Wainwright. Also slated to pay tribute are actors Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Bruce Willis and fellow American classic, Homer Simpson.
Bennett adorably stated yesterday, “I turn 90 tomorrow and feel like I’m just getting started and look forward to each day. I have loved performing for the public and sharing the music I love with the world. It’s a thrill to have NBC air a special in honor of my birthday and to have so many wonderful artists that I have worked with and admire participate.”
NBC isn’t the only company honoring Bennett’s 90th, though. Today, Starbucks is playing Tony Bennett music in stores all day. Bennett tweeted that we should all go enjoy a cake pop. (When should we not be enjoying a cake pop?)
.@Starbucks has declared it Tony Bennett Day to honor my bday! Enjoy a cake pop & send pics #Tony90#TonyxStarbuckspic.twitter.com/mM18h6clS3
— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) August 3, 2016
NBC’s Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come will air on Dec. 20 at 9 p.m.