Latest Breaking News Online News Portal
Susan Benedetto, who was Tony Bennett’s wife and caregiver at the time of his death, candidly opened up on the singer’s death, giving fans a glimpse into his final days.
The 56-year-old explained that as the crooner’s Alzheimer’s disease began to get the best of him, he was most himself in the early morning and had developed a routine, revealing that even on the day he died he woke up, turned to her, and said he loved her.
Speaking on the Today show, Susan added: “He woke up happy. And he’s just like, ‘Susan. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.’
While she noted that Tony “would say that to me all the time”, this would become the final words he ever told his beloved wife.
Susan also revealed that during his final months, she would watch YouTube videos with him to remind him of his greatest accomplishments across his award-winning career.
Although he couldn’t quite remember being a world-renowned singer for seven decades, when Susan explained this to him, the icon always had the same answer: “That’s because I stayed with quality.”
The Rags to Riches singer is widely considered one of the best artists of his generation, Susan says he didn’t want that to be his legacy but instead wanted to be “remembered as a nice person”.
Following his death, thousands took to social media to share their memories and tributes to the late star, from those that had only encountered his music through their parents to the likes of Lady Gaga sharing a tearjerking message to her close friend.
The outpouring of love and grief left Susan slightly taken aback, but she noted it proves Tony’s legacy will be exactly what he hoped.
He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 but could still remember the lyrics to his most famous tunes.
In fact, the singer got to his feet in one moment, coerced by his wife was trying to “get him up to exercise” as he belted out one of the hits on his debut album from 1952 just days before his death.
Susan recalled her husband’s final song: “I said, ‘Ton, why don’t you get up and you can sing?’ You know, any excuse to just get him up. I said, ‘Why don’t you sing?’
“He’s like, ‘What do you want to hear?’ I said, ‘How about singing “Because of You”?’ So he sang ‘Because of You.’ Literally, that was the last song he sang.”
Susan highlighted the fact that it was this single that catapulted Tony’s career, tearfully admitting that it now “bookends” both sides of his career.
