Barry Manilow: Why I’m Coming Out At 73
Barry Manilow has opened up about his sexuality for the first time, and revealed why he kept his nearly 40-year romance with his manager, Garry Kief, a secret from the public.
The 73-year-old singer-songwriter, known for his hits “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana,” told People that he kept his sexuality under wraps because he worried he’d be letting down his fans.
“I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything,” Manilow explained.
Manilow, who tied the knot with Kief three years ago, added that he has always been a private person, and his fame put a strain on his relationship with Kief.
The artist recalled one particular instance, early on in their courtship, when Kief almost called it quits.
“I got into the car with him [after a concert], and [the fans] were rocking the car,” Manilow said. “He was like, ‘I can’t handle this. It’s not for me.’ I’m glad he stayed.”
The two wed in an intimate ceremony held on their Palm Springs property. News of their union was quickly leaked to National Enquirer, something Manilow called both a “blessing and a curse.” In the end, though, he didn’t have to worry about his fans reactions.
“When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy,” he said. “The reaction was so beautiful — strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.”
Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at [email protected]
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30