Tony Bennett: Gaga impresses me

Tony Bennett admires Lady Gaga for becoming part of her fans' "family".

The 88-year-old musician has teamed up with the pop queen on jazz album Cheek to Cheek, which is due to be released on September 19.

He appears on the cover of Parade magazine alongside the 28-year-old, and opened up about the things he has learnt from the eccentric star.

"Nobody has communicated with the public more than Lady Gaga. Ever," he gushed to the publication.

"I trust the audience, and I'm very impressed. As far as they're concerned, she's part of their family. The only guy who ever did that was Bing Crosby, years ago."

On the cover, Gaga wears a huge brown afro wig and a red outfit. The singer stands behind Tony, straightening the bow tie he's teamed with a smoking jacket and shirt.

Gaga – who is currently dating Taylor Kinney – got personal during the interview, opening up on her desire to start a family.

"I thought I did, because I was feeling kind of finished with all of the chaos of my life. But then I started to spend a lot more time with Tony, and everything just became simpler, more pure, and more perfect," she said of waning children.

"Now I'm going to take a lot more time before I have kids and settle down. I just want to sing."

One of the tracks on Cheek to Cheek is a cover of jazz song Lush Life. It holds a very personal meaning for Gaga, who in the past has had hits with Poker Face and Just Dance.

"It's heart breaking. Six months ago I didn't even want to sing anymore..." she opened up.

"I tell Tony every day that he saved my life... I'm not going to say any names, but people get irrational when it comes to money - with how they treat you, with what they expect from you... But if you help an artist, it doesn't give you the right, once the artist is big, to take advantage of them. I was so sad. I couldn't sleep. I felt dead. And then I spent a lot of time with Tony. He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice."