Barry Manilow has come out as a gay man and to top that, he has been married to his partner of 39 years.
According to CNN, the legendary singer whose career has spanned over 50 years chose to come out of the closet this year, saying he hid his private life because he feared he would be judged.
And that’s not all: Barry Manilow is married to his manager and partner of 39 years, Garry Kief.
“I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay,” said the 73-year-old legend in a new interview. “So I never did anything. I’m so private. I always have been.”
Manilow created hit songs like “Mandy” and “Copacabana (At the Copa),” and would later meet the TV executive Kief in 1978. The duo led a private life away from the eye of the media. They secretly tied the knot in 2014, and now have chosen to step out of the shadows.
This news has stirred mixed reactions among folks who have followed the singer’s career. To some, they had always suspected his sexuality especially because he was never married to a woman. But some others too, have expressed shock and are currently showering the singer with praises.