Barry Manilow Reveals Why He Stayed Silent About His Sexuality for Decades

Barry Manilow is opening up about why he stayed silent about his sexuality for so many years, saying he believed it could have ended his music career during his early fame.

The 82-year-old singer, best known for hits like "Copacabana," shared that he did not publicly come out earlier because of how different the entertainment industry was in the 1970s and 1980s.

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Manilow reflected on how the public already seemed to know about his private life long before he spoke openly about it.

"It was a non-event. Nobody gave a s—," he said, adding that he never truly hid who he was, but chose not to discuss it publicly, JustJared reported.

"They all knew. I never really hid it, but in the '70s and '80s, that would have killed the career, and I didn't want to do that. So I just never talked about it," he explained.

Manilow came out publicly in 2017, years after privately marrying his longtime partner and manager, Garry Kief, in 2014. The two have been together for more than 47 years, building both a personal life and professional partnership that has lasted decades.

Barry Manilow Opens Up About Fan Reactions

Looking back, Manilow said the fear of losing fans played a major role in his silence. He previously admitted he worried about disappointing the people who supported his music, especially at a time when public attitudes were less accepting.

Over time, he realized many fans already accepted him and were happy for his relationship once it became public. He also shared that coming out later in life did not change how people treated him as much as he once feared. Instead, he said the reaction was surprisingly calm and supportive, helping ease some of the pressure he had carried for years.

According to People, beyond his personal life, Manilow also recently faced a serious health challenge after being diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. He underwent surgery to remove part of his lung and has been recovering since.

The experience, he said, reminded him how fragile life can be and how grateful he is for the support system around him, especially Kief.

His upcoming album, What a Time, is set for release on June 5.

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