After gifting the world countless hits over the past four decades, Barry Manilow is opening up about a gift he was hiding from fans: a nearly 40-year romance.
The 73-year-old singer married his longtime manager Garry Kief sometime in 2014, but still kept quiet about their relationship… until now!
In a new interview with People, the private pop icon got candid about his career, life struggles, and for the first time, his sexuality.
Related: Barry Hospitalized Due To Oral Surgery Complications
The music legend admitted he’s “always” been an extremely private person, though he wasn’t always struggling with his love life.
Manilow married high school sweetheart Susan Deixler after graduating, but wasn’t ready to “settle down” at the time. He explained of their one-year marriage:
“I was out making music every night, sowing my wild oats ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ I was too young. I was in love with Susan├óΓé¼┬ª I just was not ready for marriage.”
But the musician was ready for a music career. He wrote jingles for State Farm and Band-Aid to pay the bills. His career took a turn in 1971 when he took a gig arranging music for and escorting a young Bette Midler to gay hotspot the Continental Baths.
After producing the diva’s first two albums, Manilow’s career took off on its own — and so did his love life when he met Kief in 1978! Barry “knew that this was it” after meeting the TV executive, remembering:
“I was one of the lucky ones. I was pretty lonely before that.”
Soon after, Kief became the musician’s manager and became President of Barry Manilow Productions. However, the two still kept their relationship hidden from the public for decades.
Related: ‘Cash Me Ousside’ Girl Meeting With Top Music Producers
Everything changed in 2015, when news of their marriage — and thus, Manilow’s sexuality — broke, which the singer calls “a blessing and a curse.”
Barry admits that keeping his sexuality a secret was due to the fear of fan reactions, but his Fan-ilows were the opposite of disappointed upon learning the truth! He explained:
“I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything… When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ strangers commenting, ├óΓé¼╦£Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.”
AH-Mazing!!!
We’re so happy the music legend is no longer hiding the love of his life from the world. Sounds like he’s never been happier either!
[Image via JLN Photography/WENN.]
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