Recommended Free Tools
Barry Manilow said he feared that being publicly identified as gay could cost him the career he loved. In a January 5, 2024, interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he recalled worrying that interviewers would ask about his sexuality—but said none ever did. His account looks back on a private burden, not a new disclosure.
What Manilow said he feared
In the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, published by Seth Abramovitch on January 5, 2024, Manilow described keeping his sexuality private as something that weighed on him. “I didn’t want my career to go away. I love it. I’m grateful for it. But it was a burden to keep it quiet,” he said.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Ultimate Manilow | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Barry Manilow - The Essential Barry Manilow | $11.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Manilow - Greatest Hits: The Platinum Collection | $19.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Barry Manilow: Greatest Hits | $28.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Barry Manilow: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 | $9.96 | Buy on Amazon |
He also recalled anticipating a question that never came: “I was always worried. Every interview: ‘They’re going to ask me whether I’m gay or not.’ Nobody ever did, by the way. They never asked me the $64 question.” His account was that he feared being asked and what public identification might mean for his career, not that interviewers repeatedly confronted him.
What Manilow recalled about Clive Davis
Manilow placed a conversation with music executive Clive Davis in the 1980s. According to Manilow’s recollection, Davis warned that coming out could harm an artist’s career and cited Elton John as an example. The two accounts differ, however, and the interview does not establish which recollection is correct.
#1 Best Overall
- Shrink-wrapped
Davis said, “I never had that conversation with Barry,” and added that if the subject had come up, he would have regarded coming out as risky for a career. He also said they had not discussed whether Manilow should come out because Manilow had not told him he was gay. The warning, therefore, should be understood as Manilow’s recollection, alongside Davis’s denial that the conversation took place—not as a settled account of what Davis told him.
How his 2017 interview adds context
In a 2017 interview with People, reported by The Irish Times, Manilow spoke about his sexuality and relationship with Garry Kief. He said he had worried that fans would be disappointed: “I’m so private. I always have been. I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything.”
Rank #2
The same coverage reported that Manilow and Kief had married privately in Palm Springs in 2014; reports of the marriage became public in 2015. Manilow described fans’ reaction as positive: “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.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When Manilow discussed it publicly
The two interviews mark different moments in the story. The 2017 coverage records Manilow discussing his sexuality, his relationship with Kief and his concern about fans’ reactions. In 2024, he looked back on the earlier years and described the anxiety of keeping his sexuality private and the career fears behind it. The later interview is retrospective; it does not describe a new coming-out announcement.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Quick Recap
Best Value
- Barry Manilow: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 by Barry Manilow (2006-02-01)
Rank #4
- Audio CD
- Label: Arista Records
- 1 Disc
Rank #3
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter interview by Seth Abramovitch, January 5, 2024, republished by Bootleg Betty.
- The Irish Times report by Laura Harding, April 5, 2017, covering Manilow’s remarks to People.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
