Barry Manilow Finally Speaks: The Love Story He Hid for Nearly 40 Years

For decades, Barry Manilow stood before the world as one of music’s most beloved icons—his gentle voice, heartfelt ballads, and warm personality touching millions. Yet behind the applause and the spotlight, he carried a deeply personal secret. After almost 40 years of silence, Manilow is finally ready to share the truth about the love that shaped his life: his enduring relationship with television executive Garry Kief.

Born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, Manilow grew up far removed from the fame he would someday achieve. His childhood was marked by cultural complexity and family fractures—his parents separated when he was still an infant, and his mother’s family cut ties with his father soon after. Raised within a strongly Jewish household, he experienced a symbolic transformation just before his bar mitzvah when his grandfather changed the family surname to Manilow—the name the world would one day know.

Manilow’s passion for music blossomed early. After high school, he pursued a path through the New York College of Music and later the Juilliard School, supporting himself by working at CBS. His career slowly built momentum as he wrote jingles, arranged music, and performed live. By the early 1970s, his talent caught the attention of Bette Midler, leading to a powerful creative partnership that helped launch his rise to stardom. His early studio work, solo albums, and breakthrough hits eventually made him a household name.

But behind the success was a man quietly struggling with his identity. In the late 1970s, everything changed when Manilow met Garry Kief at a party in Los Angeles. The connection was immediate. Kief soon became not only Barry’s partner, but also his manager—his anchor, his confidant, and the steady force behind his career. Yet because of the public climate at the time, the two were forced to hide their relationship. Manilow feared losing fans, especially the devoted women who had supported him for years. Their love remained private, guarded, and unspoken.

They built a life together under the radar, even using trusted friends to help maintain secrecy. They attended events side by side but could never appear as a couple. It was a heavy burden that lasted nearly four decades.

In 2014, when same-sex marriage became legal in California, the pair quietly married in a private ceremony at home. The world only learned of the wedding a year later when a close friend mentioned it publicly—forcing Manilow into a spotlight he had long avoided. In 2017, he finally opened up, expressing both regret for hiding and gratitude for the overwhelming support he received.

Today, Manilow and Kief enjoy a peaceful life in Palm Springs. After so many years of silence, Manilow’s honesty stands as a reminder that love—no matter what form it takes—deserves to be lived openly, proudly, and without fear.