Barry Manilow Expresses Concern For Britney Spears

Barry Manilow expressed concern for young celebrities like Britney Spears under the glare of today's intense media spotlight. "Just being famous is a very dangerous thing to do if you are not grounded," Manilow told CNN Thursday night.

Manilow believes that social media like Twitter and YouTube invite people into celebrities' lives in a way that he has never been comfortable with. "It's my one thing that I finally have to myself, man. Which is my life and you can't come in unless I invite you in," he said. Manilow noted that he hadn't had to deal with the paparazzi in his youth, but also said today's celebrities achieve instant fame due to all the exposure, becoming household names without having to go through hard times.

Manilow's new album, 15 Minutes, was released on June 14 and debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts. The singer has been performing for over 40 years and was recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as greatest showman of our generation.