He Still Writes the Songs!

On the eve of his latest album, What a Time, the legendary entertainer opens up about how he's feeling after multiple health ordeals and why making people happy still means everything to him

- JANET GIOVANELLI

For more than five decades, Barry Manilow has been the soundtrack to pure joy. With timeless hits like "Mandy," "Copacabana" and "I Write the Songs," the Grammy-, Tonyand Emmy-winning singer-songwriter has built one of the most devoted fan bases in history. At 82, he's looking forward, not back.

His 33rd studio album, What a Time (out June 5), marks a return to the eclectic, melody-driven music that made him a star. The previously unreleased tracks, which he's worked on over multiple decades, are a blend of jazz, pop and sweeping balladry. The lead single, "Once Before I Go," was written by Manilow's friend Peter Allen, who first played it for the musician years ago.

“I knew I was too young to be honest about a song like that,” he says. Cut to present day, and super-producer Clive Davis asked Manilow, “Have you ever heard of a song called ‘Once Before I Go?’ You should record that.” Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds “did a beautiful rendition,” says Manilow, “and I put my voice on it.” The song title is about a breakup, not Manilow’s health, says the star.

Fans would be forgiven for getting that wrong. The album arrives after one of the scariest chapters of Manilow’s life: In December, the icon revealed a lung cancer diagnosis, which led to multiple postponed farewell-tour stops. (Because doctors caught the cancer early, he required surgery, but no chemo or radiation.) It also left him wondering whether he'd done everything he wanted to in his life.

In an intimate conversation with Us, Manilow talks about the frightening recovery process, his fears about returning to the stage and why making people feel good remains his greatest goal.