Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Patti's Good Life The Godmother of Soul is officially 80. Patti LaBelle rang in her milestone birthday with a surprise party on Thursday, May 23, the night before ...

At 80, it sure isn't super easy ... shirtless muscled waiters serving glasses of bubbly. "Truthfully, this birthday party was a major highlight of my career," Johnson says.

Thank you @penny.lancaster for being the best surprise party organiser ever ... “Thank you all for the wonderful birthday ...