At 78, Barry White’s widow Glodean breaks her silence about the legendary singer’s painful final years, revealing how industry betrayal, fading fame, and health struggles broke his spirit — yet his love for music and humanity endured until the very end.

More than two decades after Barry White’s death, the world is still discovering the hidden struggles behind the smooth voice that defined love and soul for an entire generation.

Now, at 78, his widow Glodean White has broken her silence, offering a rare and emotional look at the man behind the legend — and admitting painful truths that fans have long suspected but never heard confirmed.

Barry White’s rise to fame in the early 1970s was nothing short of meteoric.

His deep, velvety voice and lush orchestral arrangements made hits like Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe and You’re the First, the Last, My Everything instant classics.

Between 1973 and 1978, White sold more than 100 million records worldwide, dominated the R&B charts, and became a global icon of romance.

But behind the glamour, the story was far more complicated.

By the late seventies, the tides had begun to turn.

As disco started to dominate, White’s label, 20th Century Records, shifted its focus toward blockbuster film soundtracks — particularly the wildly successful Star Wars album — leaving the soul singer with diminishing support for his own projects.

“It broke his heart,” Glodean revealed in a recent interview.

“Barry gave everything to his music, but suddenly, it felt like the industry had moved on without him.”

In 1978, his single Oh What a Night for Dancing marked his final chart entry of the decade, peaking modestly at #24.

It was a symbolic moment — the end of an era for a man who had once seemed unstoppable.

“That song was bittersweet,” Glodean said softly.

“He recorded it when he was starting to realize fame doesn’t last forever.

But even then, he still put love into every note.”

When Barry parted ways with 20th Century Records in 1979, many thought his career was over.

Yet, true to his nature, he refused to fade quietly.

He reinvented himself through his own label and collaborations, slowly rebuilding his audience throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

But behind the scenes, personal battles were mounting — health issues, financial struggles, and the toll of a relentless work ethic began to weigh heavily.

Glodean, who married Barry in 1974 and remained by his side through triumph and turmoil, now admits those years were far from the perfect love story fans imagined.

“People saw Barry as this man of passion and romance, but at home, he was also a man under incredible pressure,” she confessed.

“There were nights when he couldn’t sleep, when he’d sit at the piano just to calm his mind.

He carried the weight of keeping everyone’s expectations alive.”

By the late 1990s, White’s health had deteriorated significantly due to kidney failure and high blood pressure.

Even as he faced declining health, he continued performing and recording

“He didn’t want people to see him weak,” Glodean said.

“He told me once, ‘My voice is my gift — I’ll use it until I can’t anymore.’”

Barry White passed away on July 4, 2003, at age 58, leaving behind an irreplaceable legacy and a devoted fanbase that continues to celebrate his music to this day.

For years, Glodean stayed largely silent, focusing on preserving his catalog and honoring his memory.

But recently, she decided it was time to speak — not just about his achievements, but about his humanity.

“Barry wasn’t just a legend,” she reflected.

“He was a man who loved deeply, who hurt deeply, and who never stopped believing in the power of love.

That’s what people need to remember.”

In revisiting their story, Glodean also hinted at how Barry’s later years were marked by disappointment with the industry that once adored him.

“He felt forgotten,” she said.

“He’d look at award shows, at the artists who came after him, and wonder if anyone really remembered where that sound came from.

It broke him a little.”

Today, as fans rediscover his timeless hits on streaming platforms, Glodean hopes the renewed interest in his work brings him the recognition he deserves.

“He gave his soul to the world,” she said.

“Now, the world is finally giving a little bit of that love back.”

Barry White’s story — from meteoric fame to heartbreak, and from silence to posthumous reverence — is one that resonates beyond music.

It’s a story about perseverance, passion, and the price of greatness.

And as Glodean White finally opens her heart about the man she loved, it’s clear that Barry’s deepest legacy isn’t just his sound — it’s the love he left behind.