CCM stars share stage with Lady Gaga at the Grammys

Lady Gaga has worked on a number of duet projects with Tony Bennett, who has Alzheimer's and was unable to attend the awards ceremony. The duo's recent album Love for Sale, which won two Grammy Awards, was Bennett's final recording project. Newman worked with Lady Gaga and Bennet on the award-winning album and on their first collaboration, Cheek to Cheek — he was the band leader, trumpet player and an arranger on both recordings. 

Newman wasn't the only CCM alumnus on stage at the Grammy Awards though. His long-time bandmates Alex Smith (BM Jazz Studies, '01), piano; and Steve Kortyka (BM Jazz, '04), saxophone, joined Newman and Gaga for the performance and on the red carpet, along with bassist Daniel Foose, musician Donald Barrett and maestro Michael Beardon. 

Newman is also the band leader and arranger for Lady Gaga's Jazz and Piano show during her Las Vegas residency and has his own late-night Vegas residency at the Nomad Library called "Brian Newman: After Dark."

In June 2021, Newman was a guest on CCM’s “School, Stage & Screen” podcast, where he discussed his work with Lady Gaga (including an injury from her famed disco ball), life as a performer in Vegas and the time he spends away from his trumpet.