At the age of 73, Barry Manilow speaks for the first time about his sexuality

From Women’s Day

As a songwriter and world-famous singer, Barry Manilow has created art that millions of people can identify with. But he has kept an important part of his private life secret. In a cover story for People Magazine, the legendary entertainer speaks for the first time about his homosexuality and his four-decade relationship with his manager Garry Kief.

Manilow married his high school sweetheart Susan Deixler shortly after graduating from high school. He said he was really in love with her, but he was just too young to keep the marriage going. When that marriage ended after a year, he focused on music for a long time, writing jingles and becoming famous with songs like “Mandy” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

In 1978, he met TV executive Kief, who became his manager, a role he still holds today. “I knew this was it,” Manilow said. “I was lucky. Before this, I was pretty lonely. He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met in my life – and a great guy, too.”

They kept their relationship secret for 39 years, and Manilow even lived with Linda Allen, who reportedly dated him for a while. Manilow and Kief married in a private ceremony in 2014, and even so, he refused to talk about his sexuality.

The story came out a year later, and Manilow says his fans have been incredibly supportive. “I thought I would disappoint them if they knew I was gay, so I never did anything,” he said. “When they found out Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful – strangers would comment, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for that.”

And Manilow’s career is going well too. The 73-year-old has a new album, This is my city: Songs from New Yorkis out April 21, but he has stepped away from touring. Instead, he’s taking time to relax with Kief at their Palm Springs home. “It’s the end of the road – but it’s not the end,” Manilow told the magazine. “I’m going to keep going until they stop me!”

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