Barry Manilow Broke His Mom’s Heart — By Being In The Closet

Barry Manilow is out of the closet after The National ENQUIRER's bombshell exclusive on his gay marriage — but he broke his mom's heart by keeping his sexuality a secret! The pop star refused to see Edna Manilow performing in New York City because of her own gay following. The ENQUIRER exposed his mother's heartbreak in 1986, after a pal dished: "More than anything, Edna would love to look into the audience and see Barry." But another source revealed that Barry wouldn't be seen in the gay bars where Edna had become a cabaret act!

"Barry got his start with Bette Midler playing gay bathhouses," said a veteran NYC activist, "and he was terrified that would come back to haunt him. That's why he always made a big deal out of getting his start by writing commercial jingles for Band-Aid and McDonald's. He wasn't going to go near the places that Edna played!" But after The ENQUIRER revealed Edna's heartbreak, Barry agreed to see her perform at the Panache supper club in Manhattan.

The ENQUIRER was there when Edna told the crowd: "This is a very special night for me. My Barry is here." His mom even got closed her show by walking offstage with a spotlight to hug her pop-star son. Edna would later die from lung cancer in 1994 — but never got the other thing that she wanted from Barry (seen here with husband Garry Kief). Insiders patiently smiled during her act when she assured the crowd that Barry wasn't gay, since he'd been married before. "I'd also love for him to get married again," Edna would say, "so I could have a grandchild!"