NBC is throwing Tony Bennett a 90th birthday party, and it is enlisting the help of a star-studded group of entertainers.
NBC confirms that Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Elton John, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Rufus Wainwright and Stevie Wonder will all perform on the December 20 “Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come” special. Bennett will also deliver a performance of his own on the broadcast, which airs at 9PM ET that night.
Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Bruce Willis and Homer Simpson are among the names confirmed for appearances; additional celebrity guests will be revealed at a later date.
“Since we celebrated Tony’s 80th birthday on NBC, it only seemed fitting that we should also stop and pay tribute to his 90th, a true milestone for the greatest living vocalist of popular music,” said NBC’s Bob Greenblatt. “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.”
“I turn 90 tomorrow and feel like I’m just getting started and look forward to each day,” added Bennett. “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.”