Barry Manilow opens up about keeping his sexuality a secret for decades
The star, who publicly revealed his homosexuality in 2017, expressed that back in the 1970s, the public was not receptive to anyone openly coming out.
«Now being gay is no big deal,» he said. «Back in the 70s it would have killed a career.»
The Brooklyn-born singer, who was secretly in a relationship with his manager Garry Kief for 39 years, married in 2014.
In an interview with CNN's CNN's Chris Wallace, Manilow said he «never thought» if he felt pressured to hide his sexuality.
Barry Pincus, better known as Manilow, stands as one of the highest-selling musicians in history, propelled by polished, orchestrated hits like «Mandy,» «Looks Like We Made It,» and «Copacabana.»
An innate showman, he remains dedicated to his craft in his eighth decade, debuting a new Broadway musical and taking the lead in a recently announced Christmas TV special. Currently, Manilow is in the 14th year of a Las Vegas residency, with concert dates booked until December 2024.
His musical journey took flight in the mid-1970s, and during those whirlwind years, Manilow acknowledged that Kief played a crucial role in saving his life.
«As my career exploded, it was just crazy.
And, you know, going back to an empty hotel room, you can get into a lot of trouble if you, you know, you're alone night after night after night,» he explained.
«But I met Garry right around when it was exploding. And I didn't have to go back to those empty hotel rooms.
I had somebody to cry with or to celebrate with.»
«It was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun,» he added.
'Nervous breakdown'
Before entering into a relationship with Kief, Manilow had tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart, Susan Deixler, in 1964.
Their union endured for just
