Are pop stars helping or hurting the future of jazz?

Why would someone like Lady Gaga, who has been at the top of the charts, turn to a genre that's steadily been heading off of them?

CBC Radio · Posted: Sep 01, 2015 9:04 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 1, 2015

Lady Gaga performs "Cheek to Cheek" with Tony Bennett at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

He's in his 80s. She was born in the 80s. After seven months on the road, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have wrapped up their Cheek to Cheek tour.

But questions remain: why would someone like Lady Gaga, who has been at the top of the charts, turn to a genre that's steadily been heading off of them?

For insight, Shad checks in with Jill Barber — a singer who crossed the floor from pop-folk to jazz — as well as Soraya Nadia McDonald, Washington Post arts and culture reporter.

WEB EXTRA | In the order that they were sampled on air, here are a few pop stars giving jazz a go.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga perform The Lady is a Tramp