A familiar voice has returned to the top of adult contemporary radio. Barry Manilow’s “Once Before I Go” recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, marking a significant milestone in his later career.
The chart move followed steady radio support rather than a sudden surge. The track gained audience impressions over several weeks, gradually climbing as adult contemporary stations added it to regular rotation. Billboard confirmed the song eventually led the format, giving Manilow his first Adult Contemporary No. 1 in several decades.
What this really highlights is longevity. Manilow now holds the record for the longest span between his first and most recent No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, stretching across more than 50 years of releases and shifting radio trends. His earliest chart-toppers arrived in the 1970s, while “Once Before I Go” reflects a quieter, reflective tone aimed at long-time listeners and new audiences alike.
Adult contemporary radio has long favored consistency, and Manilow’s return shows that established artists can still connect when the material fits the format’s evolving sound.
