Barry Manilow was a heartthrob artist for decades, capturing the hearts of female fans all around the world with his captivating singing. The artist abruptly announced his 39-year relationship with a man he had a child with and married at the age of 71, taking many by surprise.

Born Barry Alan Pincus to a single mother named Edna Manilow, Barry Manilow rose to fame when his pop-rock ballad “Mandy” hit the charts. Since then, he has been continually in the spotlight, capturing the hearts of his millions of female-dominated followers.

Given that he had previously married his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, many people were shocked when he unexpectedly revealed his 39-year relationship with a man. Their romance was previously widely known, and fans liked following the singer’s every move.

Aside from music, Manilow’s initial passion was Deixler. She was considered the “prettiest girl in the class.” He once characterized her affectionately, stating, “She was adorable, small, with great legs and a voluptuous figure.” “Jet-black hair, dark brown eyes, and a smile that brightened the room.”

Deixler eventually grew to like Manilow, and when he was 21 and she was 19, they married before a court in 1964 before redoing the ceremony with a rabbi at her family’s request.

Unfortunately, their relationship did not endure long, and they parted two years later. Manilow said that the wedding was hasty, and that while he loved Deixler, he was just not prepared for a lifelong commitment like marriage.

According to the pop-rock artist, he was so obsessed with producing music that his relationship with Deixler quickly deteriorated. He said:

“Every night, I was out creating music and sharing my passion—I was too young.” I wasn’t prepared to settle down.”
Although his marriage was breaking apart, Manilow’s pouring of his heart and soul into music finally paid off. He rose to prominence with the popular ballad “Mandy” before recording iconic successes such as “Copacabana (At the Copa),” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and “Looks Like We Made It.”

Only four years after “Mandy” topped the charts, his reputation enabled him to meet Garry Kief, a TV executive who would later become the love of his life. While Manilow claims he was not suffering with his sexuality when he split from Deixler, he did come to grips with the idea that the person he was in love with was male.

While Manilow discovered “the one,” he had to keep his sexuality and same-sex relationship covert to avoid conflicts and media headlines. He declined to speak, claiming, “It was very difficult to do that [back then], to have a conversation like we’re having, because it would have [resulted in] a very negative article.”

Soon after meeting Kief, the TV executive took over as Manilow’s manager, a position he still has today. He also serves as the president of Barry Manilow Productions, a role he holds with outstanding merit. Manilow says, “[Kief is] the smartest person I’ve ever met in my life—and a great guy, too.”

Some may believe Kief made it big when he met Manilow in 1978, but the singer says it was he who hit the jackpot. He knew he had finally met “the one,” and this still holds true today. “I knew this was it. I was one of the lucky ones. “I was really lonely before that,” he exclaimed.

Manilow and Kief have been thrilled to stay at one another’s sides for almost four decades, but things were not always simple for the pair. They had to keep their relationship and Manilow’s sexuality private due to the growing violence and unhappiness of their fans.

Kief went to one of Manilow’s performances early in their relationship and accompanied him in his vehicle. Fans ended up shaking the truck, and Kief acknowledged right away that he couldn’t take it. In the end, Manilow was pleased he remained.

Manilow eventually opted to keep his sexuality a secret for fear of disappointing his followers after the traumatic episode. Manilow always wanted to make them proud of his work and as a person.

Interviewers rarely mentioned that Kief and Manilow ate dinner together in public, but one did ask about his sexual orientation. He lied only because he had to. However, the singer said that if asked again, he would have proudly given an honest response.

Manilow and Kief don’t need to conceal any longer because they’ve been blissfully married since 2014. However, the musician claimed at the time that he was still afraid to disclose his relationship with the press and come out publicly, even after they married.

Manilow and Kief married in a private ceremony at their Palm Springs house in April 2014, surrounded by their closest relatives and friends. A year later, word leaked about their wedding and Manilow’s sexuality.

Admittedly, the celebrity describes it as “a blessing and a curse.” He had always been sensitive to his admirers, believing that disclosing the truth about his sexual orientation would disappoint them.

In the end, he was glad that people were excited to learn about him and Kief, and he was moved to read all of their positive remarks about their relationship. Their relationship has remained strong to this day, and they have a kid, Kief’s biological daughter Kirsten, whom they raised jointly.

The TV executive had a one-year-old daughter when Kief and Manilow first met. Manilow, a proud stepfather, has nothing but positive things to say about his husband.

“That is the wonder of our friendship. It’s a mutually respectful relationship, and we’ve never had a disagreement.”

Deixler, Manilow’s ex-wife, learned of the wedding at one time and expressed her joy for him. She referred to their prior marriage as “ancient history” and wished Manilow and Kief well.

Manilow believes that now that the public is aware of his sexuality, nothing has changed for him, as his family and friends have always known. The striking distinction is that he may freely express his sexuality to the rest of the world. He shared:

“For me, there have never been any issues with it.” I couldn’t be more proud to be a homosexual man with a lovely life and a wonderful partner for 40 years.

With sexuality no longer a taboo subject, performers such as Harry Styles have followed suit and talked openly about it. With nothing to conceal, Manilow and Styles can offer the world their best, whether as performers or public figures.