For decades, the world knew Barry Manilow for the hits, the sold-out arenas, and the devoted fans — but much of his private life remained carefully guarded. Now, the legendary singer has opened up about the love he built behind the scenes, the family they created, and the serious health battle he is currently facing.
Born Barry Alan Pincus in Brooklyn in 1943, Manilow was raised by his single mother and discovered music early. His first marriage, to high school sweetheart Susan Deixler, lasted just a year. He later explained that the split had nothing to do with his sexuality, but rather his total focus on launching a music career he wasn’t willing to pause.
While his songs became timeless classics, Manilow kept his personal life out of the spotlight for decades. That changed in 2017, when he publicly acknowledged his long-term relationship with his manager, Garry Kief — a partnership that had already lasted more than 40 years by that point.
Manilow has said his relationship with Kief was never truly secret, just not publicly discussed. The two married privately in 2014, long before he officially spoke about being gay. He admitted he once feared disappointing fans, but the response, when the truth became public, was overwhelmingly supportive.
Together, Manilow and Kief also built a family. They raised a daughter, Kirsten — Kief’s biological child — whom Manilow has described with immense pride. In 2023, the singer became a grandfather after Kirsten adopted a baby girl, a role he never imagined for himself but now deeply cherishes.
Kief remains not only Manilow’s life partner, but also his closest professional ally, continuing to manage his career. Manilow has often credited their relationship with giving him stability, especially during the most demanding years of his fame.
Recently, the singer revealed another deeply personal challenge: a diagnosis of stage-one lung cancer. The illness was discovered early during precautionary testing, and doctors confirmed that surgery alone should be sufficient, without the need for chemotherapy or radiation.
Despite the diagnosis, Manilow has remained optimistic and active, continuing to perform and plan future concerts. By sharing his love story, family life, and health journey, he appears more open than ever — letting fans see the man behind the music, at a moment when resilience matters most.
