Exploring Barry Manilow’s Husband And NBC’s Christmas Special

Barry Manilow, born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943, is a renowned American singer and songwriter whose musical journey has extended over seven decades. Among his chart-topping tracks are “Could It Be Magic,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Weekend in New England,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

Barry Manilow boasts an impressive record of 51 Top 40 singles on the Adult Contemporary Chart, with 13 claiming the top spot, 28 securing a position within the top ten, and 36 reaching the top twenty. His discography includes 13 platinum and six multi-platinum albums.

Transitioning to another facet of Barry Manilow’s life, many individuals are intrigued by details about his husband. In this article, we will delve into the identity of Barry Manilow’s husband, exploring not only his current marital status but also shedding light on his previous marriages. Additionally, we’ll cover insights from Barry Manilow himself as he discusses the ‘A Very Barry Christmas’ TV special and his evolving perspective on the term ‘Fanilow.’

Know About Barry Manilow’s Husband

In April 2014, Barry Manilow married his longtime partner, Garry Kief, culminating a relationship that had begun in 1978. Despite his career starting in the early 1960s, Manilow had kept his relationship with Kief private, publicly coming out as gay in 2017. Concerned about potentially disappointing his fans, Manilow decided to reveal his true self, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Reflecting on his decision to come out, Manilow shared with PEOPLE, “I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So, I never did anything. 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 and Kief’s connection began in 1978, and Manilow admitted to instantly feeling a deep connection. “I knew that this was it,” he expressed. “I was one of the lucky ones. I was pretty lonely before that. … Garry didn’t know what I did, even though I had all these records out. He was a guy, and I was a guy, so we could just deal with each other like two normal people, not like a superstar and a person.”

Despite marrying in a private ceremony at their Palm Springs, California home in April 2014, news of their wedding only surfaced a year later. The couple surprised 20 to 30 guests, who believed they were gathering for lunch.

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Manilow, content with both his career and personal life, openly shared his happiness, stating, “He’s at a point now where he’s got his career and personal life in a great place and he really doesn’t care what people think. He’s in love and happy.” Recounting the emotional wedding, Manilow said, “It was deeper than we thought it was going to be, looking at each other, saying, ‘I love you’ in front of people.”

Barry Manilow’s First Marriage To Susan Deixler

Barry Manilow’s initial marriage took place in 1964 with his high school sweetheart and fellow Brooklyn native, Susan Deixler. The couple, aged 20 and 19 respectively, exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by a justice of the peace, later solemnized by a rabbi.

Despite Barry expressing his love for Susan, their union lasted only a year before being annulled in 1966. In a 2017 interview with PEOPLE, Barry acknowledged that he wasn’t prepared for marriage at the time, citing his youth and the demands of his burgeoning music career. He clarified that he had not yet confronted issues related to his sexuality during this early marriage.

Detailing their brief time together in his 1987 autobiography “Sweet Life,” Barry referred to Susan as the “perfect wife” and acknowledged the perception that he rushed into marriage, even by the standards of his friends. The couple lived in Greenwich Village during their marriage.

Susan, who did not remarry after her relationship with Barry, has since dedicated herself to providing in-home care services for senior citizens. The couple did not have any children together. In a 2015 statement, Susan expressed happiness for Barry, stating, “I wish him well. I’m happy for him. I’m glad that he’s found love and happiness.”

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Emphasizing that their relationship is a distant chapter, she commented on the passage of time, saying, “What happened between us, our relationship, is ancient history, and I don’t want to dig back into ancient history. It’s 50 years ago. You have to remember that I’m not a celebrity. I have children, a life… all that was a long time ago. I’m a private person, but I’m happy for him. I really am.”

Barry Manilow At 80: Unstoppable Energy And Christmas Cheer On NBC Tonight

At the age of 80, Barry Manilow shows no signs of slowing down. Despite his milestone birthday, he remains incredibly busy with a packed schedule. Tonight, NBC will broadcast “Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas” at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Filmed five weeks ago at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the special features a blend of holiday classics (“Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Feliz Navidad,” and “White Christmas”) and Manilow’s iconic hits, including his three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles: “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” and “Looks Like We Made It,” along with the renowned “Copacabana.”

Directed by Matt Askew, the special marks Manilow’s third Christmas-themed TV special, complementing his three Christmas albums. Despite plans for another album this year, he couldn’t complete it due to the challenges of the past year. Reflecting on the tumultuous times, Manilow shared, “This year was like the craziest year ever.”

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His recent achievements include being honored by the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall in May, a five-night performance at Radio City Music Hall in May and June, and an upcoming five-show engagement at the venue in April 2024. Additionally, he presented at the Tony Awards in June, and the Broadway musical “Harmony,” co-written with Bruce Sussman, finally premiered in November after spending decades in development.