Barry Manilow in Columbus

About Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow spent the 1970s and 80s turning confession booth ballads into arena-filling hits. He wrote jingles for State Farm and Dr Pepper before "Mandy" became his breakthrough in 1974, which kicked open the door for a run of soft-rock staples that defined the decade. "Copacabana" told the story of a dancer's fall from grace with cinematic sweep. "I Write the Songs" won a Grammy and became his signature, though it's often misunderstood as genuinely autobiographical when it's actually more of a philosophical statement. His production values were immaculate, his arrangements lush, his voice technically precise. He's sold over 80 million records and remains one of the most successful pop songwriters of his era, though he's also one of pop's most reliable punching bags for critics who mistake sentimentality for lack of substance.

Manilow shows are devotional experiences. The crowd skews older, mostly women, many of whom have been waiting thirty years to hear these songs live. He's a consummate performer—technically sharp, emotionally committed. The production is ornate. Nobody's casual about it.

Known for Mandy, Copacabana (At the Copa), Looks Like We Made It, Endlessly, I Write the Songs

Barry Manilow + Columbus

Barry Manilow rolled into Nationwide Arena on August 25, 2023 with the kind of setlist that reminded you why he's spent decades selling out theaters. He opened with "It's a Miracle" and didn't waste time getting to the catalog's meat—"Looks Like We Made It," "Even Now," "A Weekend in New England"—songs that land different when you're hearing them live. The crowd ate up the medleys, especially when he threaded "Dancing in the Aisles" into "Dancing in the Street," and by the time "Copacabana" rolled around, the room was fully his. He closed on "When the Good Times Come Again," which felt less like an ending and more like a promise. Twenty songs in, and Columbus got the full Manilow treatment.

Barry Manilow in Columbus News

• Barry Manilow's Columbus concert rescheduled for August 10TV · Feb 23, 2026
• Barry Manilow reschedules 'Last’ Columbus concert for August WSYX · Feb 23, 2026
• Barry Manilow’s Columbus concert again rescheduled after lung cancer diagnosis NBC4 WCMH-TV · Feb 23, 2026
• Barry Manilow reschedules tour dates again after 'depressing visit' to the doctor: 'My body had been through hell' Entertainment Weekly · Feb 21, 2026
• ‘Body isn’t ready’: Barry Manilow postpones more shows amid cancer battle FOX 8 News · Feb 21, 2026

Live Music in Columbus

Columbus has always been more rock and hip-hop territory than soft-pop, but Manilow's visits remind the city that there's an entire demographic that grew up on his arrangements and production sensibilities. The arena crowds he draws speak to how deep the '70s and '80s songwriting tradition runs here, even if it's not the first thing people mention when they talk about Ohio music. In a market that tends to lean guitar-forward, Manilow represents the other side of that era—the orchestral, the melodic, the unashamed.

Columbus road trip to see Barry Manilow?

Stay in German Village, where the restored brick townhouses and tree-lined streets feel like an actual neighborhood rather than a tourist zone. Dinner at Harvest Bistro on High Street for refined American food done without fuss. Spend the afternoon at the Columbus Museum of Art, then walk through the Short North corridor—the gallery district has real energy without feeling manufactured. Catch the show at Nationwide Arena, then grab drinks at Drinkery in German Village for something low-key.