Music legend Tony Bennett has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Tony revealed the news today as he thanked his beloved wife Susan and his family for supporting and caring for him during his fight against the disease.
He has released a statement on his official Twitter account to inform his fans that he is battling with the disease.
The star told his fans how he was diagnosed back in 2016 but decided to keep it private until he revealed his condition today in an article for AARP.
Tony tweeted: “Life is a gift – even with Alzheimer’s. Thank you to Susan and my family for their support, and @AARP The Magazine for telling my story.”
Tony Bennett performs on stage at the Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, 1998 (Image: Getty Images)
Below it was a link to the article where he revealed that he has been fighting it for nearly five years.
Following his tweet, many of his 153,000 followers rushed to send him their love and support.
One tweeted back: “An absolute talent and a gentleman.”
Outlander actress Caitriona Balfe wrote: “A true legend.”
Tony revealed that his wife has been taking care of him during lockdown (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Tony’s wife Susan also spoke in the magazine’s piece as she revealed she has been caring for him amid Covid-19 as they let their assistant go to keep to distancing rules.
Susan told the publication: “I have my moments and it gets very difficult.
“It’s no fun arguing with someone who doesn’t understand you.
“But I feel badly talking about it because we are so much more fortunate than so many people with this diagnosis.”
Tony is a music legend who has worked with the likes of Lady Gaga (Image: Getty Images)
Susan also thanked the doctors who have cared for her husband, Tony’s son and his manager.
She said: “He would ask me, ‘What is Alzheimer’s?’ I would explain, but he wouldn’t get it. 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.”
Tony, real name Anthony Dominick Benedetto, is an American singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz.
He is also a painter, having created works under his birth name that are on permanent public display in several institutions.
The star has also won 20 Grammy Awards including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
