(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Devastated by Whitney Houston’s death, Tony Bennett called for the legalization of drugs before performing a song in her honor at Clive Davis’s pre-Grammys bash.

The crooner’s point appeared to be that Houston – whose cause of death has not been determined – was only the latest casualty of drug policy that forces people to take risks.

“First it was Michael Jackson, then Amy Winehouse, now the magnificent Whitney Houston,” the legendary singer was quoted as saying on stage. “I’d like every person in this room to campaign to legalize drugs.”

He continued, “Let’s legalize drugs like they did in Amsterdam,” which Bennett labeled a “very sane” city.

“No one’s hiding or sneaking around corners to get it. They go to a doctor,” explained Bennett.

While Houston struggled with drug abuse in the past, it has not been established that drugs played a role in her death on Saturday.

Bennett, who called Houston “the greatest singer I’ve ever heard in my life,” performed “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” at the star-packed gala.

Sunday’s Grammys will feature a Houston tribute.

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(Benedetto/Tony Bennett)

The nude portrait of Lady Gaga sketched by Tony Bennett was sold for $30,000 during an eBay charity auction.

Bennett, who is Gaga’s “The Lady is a Tramp” duet partner, did the charcoal-on-paper artwork as part of the cover story and layout for the January issue of Vanity Fair.

RELATED – Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett Sing (VIDEO)

The piece is signed “Benedetto,” the singer’s real last name and the one he uses for visual artwork.

Among the other items put up for auction were an autographed poster of the Vanity Fair cover featuring Gaga and some of the accessories she wore during the shoot.

RELATED – Lady Gaga Opens Up in Vanity Fair

All proceeds went to Exploring the Arts, an organization founded by Bennett and his wife to benefit arts education in public schools, and Gaga’s own Born This Way Foundation.

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“NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” has just announced its slate to ring in 2012.

Joining Daly on the 2-hour special from Times Square in New York are Drake and Jessie J, as well as “The Voice” music coaches Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green.

There will also be performances from The Roots and Tony Bennett, and segments from Jimmy Fallon, Bob Costas, Brian Williams, and Ricky Gervais.

Elsewhere in Times Square, as Gossip Cop previously reported,  Selena Gomez and fellow Disney alum Demi Lovato will host MTV’s live New Year’s special, while Gomez’s boyfriend Justin Bieber will perform on ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

Whose New Year’s Eve celebration will you be watching?

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(Vanity Fair)

Lady Gaga‘s cover story in the upcoming Vanity Fair reveals a lot about her history of bad romance, but it also features the pop star in a number of beautifully photographed shots by Annie Leibovitz.

In new behind the scenes video, we see Gaga posing for Leibovitz in private and on the streets (and ferries) of New York.

There’s also a glimpse of Gaga getting naked for Tony Bennett.

Check out the video below!

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Regis Philbin says goodbye to “Live with Regis and Kelly” on November 18, and during his last week on the air he’s going to get a sendoff from some of his “favorite guests and friends.”

Among those booked on Philbin’s final week are Jimmy Fallon and Don Rickles (November 14), Donald Trump (November 15), David Letterman (November 16), and his former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford (November 17).

The final shows will also feature musical performances from Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, and Bret Michaels.

Philbin’s last day on the air will be a look-back at his nearly three decades hosting the hit morning show, along with a few surprises.

Will you be tuning as Philbin ends an era hosting “Live”?

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When Gossip Cop thinks of Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is Lady Gaga.

So it was no surprise when we learned that Gaga was going to do an ABC special titled, “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving,” on November 24.

In addition to performing a number of Thanksgiving classics like “White Christmas,” “The Edge of Glory,” and our holiday favorite, “Lady and the Tramp” (with Tony Bennett), Gaga will also sit down with Katie Couric at the singer’s high school alma mater, the Sacred Heart school in New York, and talk about her upbringing, relationships, music, and a slew of other subjects.

The 90-minute special will also feature Gaga preparing a Thanksgiving meal of deep-fried turkey and waffles, which there’s always a chance she’ll wear afterwards.

Will you be tuning in?

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A new album of Amy Winehouse songs will be released in December, the late singer’s label announced on Monday.

Island Records said “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” will feature 12 songs, consisting of unreleased tracks and different versions of existing songs by Winehouse, who died in July at her London home.

RELATED – Coroner: Amy Winehouse Drank Herself to Death

Winehouse’s musical partners, Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, spent hours listening to various takes of different songs, which they felt “deserved to be heard, a collection of songs that were a fitting testament to Amy the artist and, as importantly, Amy their friend,” noted Island Records.

The third album, to be released on December 5, will include Winehouse’s last studio recording, a duet cover of “Body & Soul” with Tony Bennett.

Mitch Winehouse said he had never heard some of his daughter’s unreleased tracks, including “Halftime,” which he described as “just incredibly beautiful.”

He added in Island Records’ statement: “If the family had felt that this album wasn’t up to the standard of ‘Frank’ and ‘Back To Black’ we would never have agreed to release it and we believe it will stand as a fitting tribute to Amy’s musical legacy.”

Approximately $1.60 from the sale of each album in the U.K. will be donated to a foundation, created in Winehouse’s name, that aids disadvantaged children.

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(VEVO)

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have been in the news for their politics recently, but the talented twosome also make some beautiful music together.

There’s now video of their version of “The Lady Is A Tramp,” which is included in Bennett’s new Duets II album.

We kinda dig the crooner-meets-Monster vibe.

How do you like the Gaga-Bennett combo?

Check out the video below!

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Tony Bennett made controversial remarks about the September 11 terrorist attacks during a Monday interview with Howard Stern, saying the United States is to blame.

When the host asked the 85-year-old entertainer how to deal with terrorists, Bennett replied, “But who are the terrorists? Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists? Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

After Stern pointed out that the 9/11 hijackers destroyed the World Trade Center, Bennett explained, “They flew the plane in, but we caused it. Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.”

The singer, a World War II veteran who served in Germany and then became a pacifist, also claims that George W. Bush “personally” told him in 2005 that he “made a mistake” with the Iraq war.

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John Mayer is canceling two upcoming performances and postponing the release of his next album due to a vocal cord issue.

He announced the news on his blog.

“After several months of going week to week monitoring and hoping to correct the condition, I am forced to cancel my upcoming singing engagements due to something next to my vocal cords called a granuloma,” he explains.

Mayer doesn’t go into the specific nature of his granuloma, which is broadly characterized as a tissue inflammation.

He’s dropped out of next weekend’s iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, as well as an upcoming performance with Tony Bennett in Los Angeles.

The album, Born and Raised, had been slated for release later this year. It now will be pushed to 2012.

“This is a temporary setback, although I’m not sure how long or short a period of time it will be,” writes Mayer. “I’ve got the best doctors in the country looking after me and I will be singing and touring again as soon as I get the all clear.”

He continues, “Until then I’ll be spending time writing and composing more music and kicking an empty soup can around the West Village.”

We hope Mayer’s back on stage soon.

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Lady Gaga

Take a listen to the track below!

What do you think of Gaga’s take on the jazzy standard?

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(VEVO)

Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett‘s collaboration “Body and Soul” was released today, on what would have been Winehouse’s 28th birthday.

The track is the last song Winehouse recorded before she died.

Bennett said, “We had a beautiful time recording together in the studio, and I knew that Amy was very happy with how she performed that day.”

The song is part of Bennett’s new album “Duets II.”

All proceeds from the single will be donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which focuses on helping needy youths.

Check out the amazing video below.

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Dozens and dozens of stars were at the Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles earlier today to record a remake of “We Are the World” to benefit those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti.

Among those lending their voices and support were Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, Pink, Jennifer Hudson, the Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, will.i.am, Rob Thomas, Natalie Cole, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Katharine McPhee, Justin Bieber, Keri Hilson, Brian Wilson, Akon, Brandy, Gladys Knight, Randy Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Adam Levine, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Robin Thicke, Jason Mraz, Faith Evans, Harry Connick Jr., India.arie, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Brandy,  Julianne Hough, Lil Wayne, Amber Rose, Nicole Scherzinger, and Vince Vaughn. 

The benefit single was produced by Quincy Jones, who along with Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, put together the original recording 25 years ago in the exact same studio. 

Gossip Cop will update when more participants’ names are confirmed.

The video for the song is reportedly going to begin airing February 11.

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