From Pop Star to “Doctor” Manilow
Barry Manilow had a surprise in store at his Detroit concert this week—not for the audience, but for himself. The 81-year-old legend received an honorary doctorate from VanderCook College of Music, recognizing his decades-long commitment to music education through the Manilow Music Project, which has donated over $10 million in instruments to schools.
“I’ve gotten Emmys, Grammys, People’s Choice—but this is the first time anyone has acknowledged me as a musician,” he said. Capping off the moment? A tossed mortarboard and “Pomp and Circumstance” played by his band.
Saying Goodbye, City by City
Manilow’s current tour—The Last Concerts—isn’t just a title. It’s a real farewell. “When I say goodbye at the end of the show, I mean it,” he told Billboard. “I’m not coming back to these cities.”
He’s still going strong, both vocally and energetically, but after more than 50 years on the road, he’s ready to close this chapter with intention.
One Last Album
Before he bows out, Manilow has one more gift for fans: a new album—his first since 2020. He admits it’s gone through a modern makeover. “I had to strip out the strings and background vocals—nobody does that anymore,” he laughed.
Still, he’s staying true to his style: “Today’s songs sound like run-on sentences. I need a hook, a chorus—structure. That’s how I write.”
Looking Back with Gratitude
It’s been 50 years since “Mandy” and “I Write the Songs” topped the charts. Even those nearly didn’t happen—Manilow famously tried to turn both down. “I told Clive Davis, ‘I can’t sing that! People will think I’m full of myself!’” But, thankfully, Davis persisted.
Now, as Manilow finishes this last lap—alongside his ongoing Vegas residency—it’s clear he’s leaving on his own terms, grateful, grounded, and still doing what he loves.
