The man who writes the songs won’t be singing any of them on “The View” — not as long as Elisabeth Hasselbeck is there.
Barry Manilow has backed out of his scheduled appearance on the morning talk show after the show refused to pull Hasselbeck from the interview, “Access Hollywood” has learned.
Manilow, a long time friend of Rosie O’Donnell, posted the following message on his Web site:
“I wanted to let you know that I will no longer be on The View tomorrow as scheduled. I had made a request that I be interviewed by Joy, Barbara or Whoopi, but not Elisabeth Hasselback (sic). Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple request so I bowed out. It’s really too bad because I’ve always been a big supporter of the show, but I cannot compromise my beliefs. The good news is that I will be on a whole slew of other shows promoting the new album so I hope you can catch me on those.”
However, sources close to “The View” claim Manilow is lying.
Sources told “Access” the show is the one who canceled the booking because they would not allow the “Copacabana” singer to dictate who would interview him.
In addition, the appearance has been scheduled since July (which is after O’Donnell left the show) and that Manilow has appeared twice on the show in the past with Hasselbeck on the panel.
Manilow is currently making the rounds to promote his new album, “Greatest Songs of the Seventies.”
“Access” has reached out to “The View” for comment and is awaiting a response.
In an interview with “Access Hollywood” last week, Manilow talked about his new album — and the duet he recorded with his pal O’Donnell.
The two recorded Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” however, the track didn’t make the new album.
“It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. She is just inspiring because you know she’s not a singer. She knows that, but she just got behind the microphone and ripped away. She was great and in tune, too,” Manilow said of O’Donnell. “The problem was, as I put the album together, it became a very romantic album. And having this thing come crashing in out of nowhere, the tone just didn’t feel right. It’ll probably wind up being a bonus cut somewhere.”