Tony Bennett Retires From Performing Live As Alzheimer’s Fight Continues

After more than eight decades of doing live performances, singer Tony Bennett announced he is retiring on doctors’ orders.

Bennet’s son, Danny Bennett, said that last week’s sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York with Lady Gaga would be his last performances.

“There won’t be any additional concerts,” Danny told Variety. “This was a hard decision for us to make, as he is a capable performer. This is however doctors’ orders. His continued health is the most important part of this, and when Tony’s wife, Susan, heard the doctors she said, ‘Absolutely not.'”

Earlier this year, it was disclosed that Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016. The singer has continued to do live performances until now. The singer was anticipated to appear at several other concerts, but they have been canceled.

“It’s not the singing aspect but rather the traveling,” Danny explained. “He gets tired. We don’t want him to fall on stage, for instance. We’re not worried about him being able to sing. We are worried, from a physical standpoint … about human nature. Tony [is] 95.”

Though he will no longer be a live performer, future music releases have been announced. For instance, a collaborative album with Lady Gaga, Love for Sale, is due in October and will contain covers of some of Cole Porter’s songs. The pair won a Grammy for their 2014 collaboration Cheek to Cheek.