Barry Manilow talked about keeping his sexuality hidden because he was worried it would affect his career.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 80-year-old singer, who came out as gay in 2017, said it was hard to keep his sexual orientation secret. He was afraid he might lose his career. He explained, “I love it. I’m grateful for it. But it was a burden to keep it quiet. I was always worried.”
Manilow mentioned a conversation he had with Clive Davis in the 1980s. Davis, a record producer, warned him not to come out because it could hurt his career. Davis said something similar had happened to Elton John after he came out as bisexual.
Elton John, who is now 76, came out as bisexual in a 1976 interview. However, in a later interview in 1992, he said he was comfortable being gay.
Davis, who is 91, came out as bisexual in his 2013 memoir. However, he said he didn’t remember the conversation with Manilow.
Barry Manilow talked about keeping his sexuality hidden
Manilow met his husband, Garry Kief, in 1978, and they got married in 2014. Before that, Manilow was married to his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler.
Manilow revealed he was gay in a 2017 interview with People magazine. He said he was worried about disappointing his fans, which is why he kept his sexuality hidden.
But when Manilow did come out, he said his fans were supportive. He said, “When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful — strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.”
Manilow is now enjoying being a grandfather for the first time. Kirsten, Garry’s daughter, adopted a baby girl, making Manilow a grandfather. He said, “This is a brand new experience for me, and I really am enjoying it.”
