Barbra Streisand Opens Up on Her New Album, Acting, and Whether She’ll Ever Perform Live Again

Barbra Streisand, the legendary singer, actress, and cultural icon, continues to captivate audiences nearly seven decades after launching her professional career in New York City. Now 83 years old, Streisand remains a towering figure in entertainment, a rare EGOT winner whose achievements span music, theater, film, and television.

In a candid conversation for the Just for Variety podcast, Streisand reflected on her newest project, The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two — a highly anticipated album featuring duets with music titans such as Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Sam Smith, James Taylor, Sting, and newcomers like Laufey and Hozier. Pop superstars Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey also join her on the stirring track “One Heart, One Voice.”

Despite her ongoing success, Streisand insisted, “I’m very lazy. I don’t like to have to work,” adding with a grin, “I like to be free. I don’t like to have commitments.” Her longtime producing partner Jay Landers has been instrumental in coaxing her back into the studio after she initially planned to retire from music and film following her work on Gypsy — a project she describes as the perfect bookend to her iconic role in Funny Girl.

The Making of The Secret of Life

Streisand described the album as a deeply personal journey, one marked by thoughtful song choices and carefully selected duet partners. “The song comes first — the music and the lyrics — then the partner,” she said. “They brought me people that were just superb. Everyone was different and yet marvelous.”

When asked about the emotional weight behind songs like “To Lose You Again,” her duet with Sam Smith, Streisand grew reflective. “You have to make yourself that person,” she explained. “It’s complicated. Sometimes you have to think of what that would feel like. The sadness, the what-could-have-been songs — they’re very emotional. They’re about grieving the fantasy that didn’t happen.”

Despite the emotional resonance of her music, Streisand confessed she rarely listens to her own recordings after completing them. “I never listen to my records after I make them,” she said. “When I hear something I recorded years ago, I’m just evaluating the sound, the orchestra, the voice — not really listening to it.” And when a Barbra Streisand song comes on the radio, she admitted, “No, I don’t think I’d go that far to turn it off. I just evaluate.”

Collaborating with Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey

The star-studded album includes a special collaboration with Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey on the track “One Heart, One Voice.” Streisand called both singers “the hottest, biggest, most wonderful voices,” grateful that they agreed to join her on the project.

The mention of Ariana Grande sparked a lighthearted exchange about the upcoming Meet the Parents sequel. Streisand joked about whether she might reprise her role as Roz Focker, only to quip that she would need to be paid handsomely given that she wasn’t compensated fairly for the original film. “I was in the time when women were getting paid less than men,” she remarked with a touch of humor and frustration. “The head of Universal sent me a bonus check. It was very sweet.”

Reflections on Acting and Directing

When asked about acting offers, Streisand revealed she receives many — though she described most as “funny offers.” She mentioned one serious opportunity from director Peter Bogdanovich and Guillermo del Toro but declined to share details, noting she is not ready to direct again. “I think I’ve probably had it,” she said about directing.

Thoughts on Performing Live

With a new album out, the question of whether Streisand will perform live again naturally arises. She responded with characteristic honesty: “Oh, God. I doubt it.” Yet, she admitted there’s a small part of her that might consider it, even as another part questions, “Why?”

Her preference remains clear: “I love recording. I’m at home in a recording studio. I’m alone. I don’t have to put on makeup or perform. I can just sing.”

Personal Insights and Family

The conversation also turned to more personal territory. Streisand shared a charming story about her son Jason’s singing talents. She recounted a moment when she was on her Pilates table and suddenly heard a man’s voice singing beautifully from her phone — it was her son, hitting incredible notes to a Quincy Jones composition. “I had to call him and say, ‘What the hell, Jason?’ I couldn’t believe it,” she laughed.

Jason’s shyness about performing contrasts with Streisand’s comfort in the studio. “He’s very much like me in the sense that he’s shy and doesn’t really like performing in front of people.”

Political and Social Views

Toward the end of the interview, Streisand weighed in on current political questions, including the 2028 presidential race. She admitted the world feels chaotic and complex. “Our country is the worst of the chaos,” she said, expressing sadness over the state of affairs.

When asked about the possibility of a woman president in her lifetime, Streisand cautiously replied, “I don’t know about in my lifetime, but certainly in my son’s lifetime.”

Legacy and Looking Ahead

Barbra Streisand’s new album and reflections reveal an artist who, even after decades in the spotlight, remains thoughtful, self-aware, and fiercely independent. Though she may not return to the stage for live concerts, her voice continues to resonate powerfully through her recordings and collaborations with a new generation of artists.

As she embraces the passage of time — a central theme in her album’s title song, written by James Taylor — Streisand embodies a timeless spirit that has inspired millions and shows no signs of fading.