Lady GaGa drank whiskey to relax around Tony Bennett.

The 'Applause' hitmaker admits she was ''very nervous'' when she started working with the jazz legend on their album, 'Cheek to Cheek,' and relied on alcohol to help her stay calm in the recording studio.

The 28-year-old star told E! News: ''The second we were in the studio together, it was so magical. We were bouncing improvisation off each other and we were laughing. I was keeping a whiskey under my stool because I was very nervous to be around him.

''And then, gradually, we became greater and greater friends. And I think because of that, our singing became more and more honest and more and more authentic.''

The 'Bad Romance' hitmaker credits the 88-year-old singer for reigniting her passion for performing.

She said: ''He's the reason that I'm here today, that I'm still making music, that I'm still excited to make music.

''Even singing with Tony now, going back on tour, it has completely changed the way I am on stage. It actually revived something in me that I haven't felt in a few years. It's a certain resilience, a certain confidence.''

The star's family are very proud of her for collaborating with the legendary singer.

She said: ''As an Italian-American woman, the biggest things for us in our lives is making our dads proud, and my father has never been more proud of me than he is right now.''