You only turn 94 once, so Tony Bennett‘s famous friends celebrated in style on Monday (Aug. 3), with sketches, songs and tributes from Bono, Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, Billy Joel and more. Bono’s abstract sketch of the ageless pop wonder came complete with the promise that “the best is yet to come” and a signature that incorporated a raised glass of bubbly.
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Hamilton‘s Leslie Odom Jr. sent a video message in which he said, “I’ve met less than a handful of people in my life who I believe carry their mantle with them. What I mean is, whatever you think, thought, you knew about this person, it is changed the instant you see them in person. Because they carry it with them, it’s like an aura. It’s in their countenance, you are one of those people, sir.”
Latifah thanked Bennett for his “positivity, friendship and music,” while tenor Andrea Bocelli sang an operatic “Happy Birthday” from a luxury yacht off the Italian coast and Sting plucked out “The Way You Look Tonight” on an acoustic guitar, reworking the lyrics (“And the way you’ve lived your life”) to pay tribute to Bennett’s eternally sunshiny outlook. Elton John acknowledged the hard times we’re in right now and paid homage to their respective optimism, with a hope that they will both be back on the road soon. “You’re an amazing man, an amazing artist and someone who we should all look up to,” John said.
Old friends Diana Krall, Bette Midler, Elvis Costello, Barbra Streisand, The Chicks and Gloria Estefan also wished Bennett their best.
See the tributes to Bennett below.
A wonderful sketch from Bono for my birthday. Thank you! @U2 pic.twitter.com/DjRIxVuaZK
— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) August 3, 2020
Happy birthday, @itstonybennett! #TheBestIsYetToCome pic.twitter.com/WxnstRqScr
— Leslie Odom, Jr. (@leslieodomjr) August 3, 2020
Happy 94th birthday to my friend the legendary @itstonybennett 🎉 50 years ago you recorded #TheBestIsYetToCome and that message is as important today as it was 5 decades ago. Thank you for your positivity, friendship, and music ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AggjZ8NkEF
— Queen Latifah (@IAMQUEENLATIFAH) August 3, 2020
Bellissimo @AndreaBocelli! Grazie. pic.twitter.com/LpOsWnkAQ2
— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) August 3, 2020
Happy birthday Tony! #TheBestIsYetToCome pic.twitter.com/feCv2p9hB0
— Sting (@OfficialSting) August 3, 2020
Thank you so much, Elton. Your optimism and energy is an inspiration to us all! The best is yet to come. https://t.co/bWLPOFLQEq
— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) August 3, 2020
To my good friend, @itstonybennett – Thank you for bringing the songs I wrote to such glorious life. Happy Birthday! Love, Billy Joel #TheBestIsYetToCome pic.twitter.com/GKtBIO07xY
— Billy Joel (@billyjoel) August 3, 2020
Thank you for your beautiful words and special birthday song, Stevie. It is an honor to call you my friend. https://t.co/5ekWbZeaxM
— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) August 3, 2020
@itstonybennett is 94 today! Happy Birthday, to a man who has enriched many lives, including mine and of course, all the kids who have attended the Frank Sinatra School of Perf. Arts, which he built and named for his dearest friend…proud to know you, Tony! #TheBestIsYetToCome
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) August 3, 2020
Happy Birthday @itstonybennett 💃🏻Wishing you good health, love and happiness for this new trip around the sun! And, like you sang, #TheBestIsYetToCome #HappyBirthdayTonyBennett 🎂😘🎂✌️🎂🎶🎂🌻🎂🎁🎂❤️🎂 https://t.co/UOMv6oNbjh
— Gloria Estefan (@GloriaEstefan) August 3, 2020
I received this wonderful birthday message from my dear friend @BarbraStreisand and wanted to share it with you all! pic.twitter.com/JkEvph5Div
— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) August 3, 2020
Happy Birthday @itstonybennett #TheBestIsYetToCome pic.twitter.com/pphnXJ5qsT
— Diana Krall (@DianaKrall) August 3, 2020
"Happy Birthday, @itstonybennett
You have made the world a better place and we will sit like this again, one day.
You are the best and #TheBestIsYetToCome
With much affection and respect. Elvis Costello". pic.twitter.com/3tHcQ0EFGe— Elvis Costello (@ElvisCostello) August 3, 2020
Happy 94th Birthday, @itstonybennett ! Your music and art add such beauty to our world…it is truly inspirational to see how much joy you bring to people.#thebestisyettocome pic.twitter.com/fc5QdhRLUb
— The Chicks (@thechicks) August 3, 2020