Review: He's still got it. Barry Manilow wows during performance at KFC Yum Center

For several minutes Monday night, the KFC YUM Center appeared to transform into an enormous neon green disco ball.

"Will you take out your glow sticks and wave them," asked Barry Manilow as he launched into "I Made It Through the Rain."

And just like that, the audience, which spanned generations and genders, began to move in unison like a gentle wave extending from the arena floor up to the seats near the rafters.

"It's been eight years since I was last in Louisville. We have a lot of time to make up for," the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning music icon explained at the end of his opening song, "It's a Miracle."

Manilow, who hasn't had a Billboard No. 1 hit since 1988 has the kind of star power that fills a stadium even without a current song topping the charts.

"I am so happy you are all here and that you still like these songs. I am never sure if anyone is going to show up," he joked with his audience.

For an hour and a half, the singer-songwriter belted out hit after hit including his first No. 1 song "Mandy" plus "I Write the Songs,” “Looks Like We Made It,” "Weekend in New England" and of course, "Copacabana."

The pop superstar, whose "Ready to Take a Chance Again" was nominated for Best Song at the 1978 Academy Awards, treated the audience to a Garth Brooks song, "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and proved that after nearly 50 years, he is still relevant with "Dancing in the Aisles," a song making the rounds on TikTok.

The ultimate showman, Manilow seems to defy his age. Now 80 years old, the performer, who is currently on a multi-city tour, was in constant motion.

Among multiple wardrobe changes, Manilow shifted from high-energy dance numbers like "New York City Rhythm" and "Jump Shout Boogie" to an emotional tribute to his grandfather with "This One's for You," all while taking time to engage with the fan-filled arena and cracking plenty of jokes about his age.

Halfway through his show, Manilow turned the spotlight on Doug Elmore, a Floyd Central High School music teacher seated near the stage.

The local winner of the Barry Manilow Music Project contest, Elmore was chosen from 100 nominations to receive $5,000 "Manilow bucks" to buy music instruments for his school's program, along with $5,000 cash.

Before the show began, Manilow met with Elmore backstage to present him with the award.

"The idea that an artist the magnitude of Barry Manilow would want to spotlight music education in every city on his tour is enormously meaningful," Elmore told the Courier Journal. "I am gratified, humbled, and very grateful to Barry."

After whoops and hollers for Elmore from the audience, Manilow told the crowd "I think music class can change a kid's life. It certainly changed mine."

Manilow's tour wraps up with shows in Detroit, Michigan, Columbus, and Cincinnati before he returns to his residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Barry Manilow performance wows at Louisville KFC Yum Center