As his fans might expect, Tony Bennett's 80th birthday celebration was a swinging affair.

He marked the milestone in several studios, recording duets with a jaw-dropping lineup of musical heavyweights — Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Bono, Elton John, the Dixie Chicks, Stevie Wonder, Sting — and that's only a third of the list.

"Duets: An American Classic" finds Bennett reprising classics from his repertoire dating back to 1951's "Because of You" (updated with one of his favorite duet partners, k.d. lang). The experience was filmed by Academy Award-winning director Rob Marshall for a one-hour special that will air Nov. 21 on NBC.

Bennett, who still plays several concerts a month, called from his home overlooking New York's Central Park to talk about the joy of duets and his legendary career.

Q. How are you feeling at 80?

A. I feel fine. I still exercise a lot, play tennis three times a week. I'm not (Roger) Federer, but nobody is. (Laughs.) It's fun and keeps me in shape.

Q. Does music also keep you feeling vibrant?

A. Yes. You have to show up (at gigs), and you have to be in shape.

Q. You've become an accomplished painter. That also must keep the creative juices flowing.

A. It keeps you going. You can't repeat yourself; you're always learning. I've studied with some very good painters.

Q. Does having your two sons involved in your career give you extra support and motivation?

A. Danny changed my whole life when he started managing me 25 years ago. I didn't have to look over my shoulder to see who was stealing my money. The choices he's made to have me perform, it's grown into such a successful thing. My other son (Dae) is my sound engineer and he does a beautiful job on my recordings.

Q. You've got an amazing lineup on this latest duets album. Did it humble you when they agreed to take part?

A. It does, because for instance, Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole and Ella Fitzgerald, they were 10 years my elder, so I always looked up to them. You learn that if you don't know the past, how can you know the future? It knocked me out that (the duet partners) had this kind of respect for me. Bono and Sting were saying, "You're the guy." I couldn't believe it.

Q. What's the secret to recording a successful duet?

A. You want to show a difference between each artist. Make sure that they sound like themselves, rather than trying to fit me in with someone who sounds a little like me.

Q. Artists don't always record together on so-called duets albums, but you demanded that. Why?

A. All through the years, I've recorded live. You want to do it in (no more than) four takes so that it feels spontaneous and honest, instead of tired. Sometimes, like with Elton John (on 1953's "Rags to Riches"), we did it in two takes. The same with James Taylor (on 1960's "Put on a Happy Face"). I was quite surprised how prepared everybody was.

Q. Is taking a fresh approach the key to re-recording classics like "The Best Is Yet to Come" with Diana Krall or "The Very Thought of You" with Paul McCartney?

A. Absolutely. Ralph Sharon played piano with me for many years, and because I was a hit with the ballads, the record company always wanted me to do ballads. He said, "Sing some jazz, because if you keep singing ballads over and over, people are going to say, 'Oh, he's doing the same thing again.' "

Q. But does some nostalgia creep in when you redo a song like 1957's "Lullaby of Broadway?"

A. No. Doing it with the Dixie Chicks, that's the first time they'd ever done a swing tune. They said, "We love it. We should do some more of this." To do it with a new, vital approach (was important).

Q. Do you have any plans to slow down after this big birthday?

A. I'm working less and making more. If that isn't success, I don't know what is. (Laughs.) I'm doing about seven dates a month, and the rest of the time, I'm painting.