When Barbra Streisand answers the phone for an interview with PEOPLE, it’s just after 2 p.m. local time in Los Angeles—but for the legendary star, the day is only beginning.
“We go to bed very late, so I’m still in bed,” the 83-year-old singer, actress, and director explains, discussing her unique routine with her husband, James Brolin.
At 84, Brolin shares the same unconventional schedule. “We have a different schedule,” Streisand adds. “We love the silence of the night.”
A Quiet Life for Streisand and Brolin
Streisand, known for her long career in the music and film industry, says that she enjoys the peacefulness of the night. Over the years, she has built her life around sound—starting with iconic hits like “The Way We Were” and movies like Funny Girl, and now, as a grandmother, the joy of hearing her grandkids laugh.
The couple has been together since 1998, after meeting at a dinner party arranged by friends two years prior. Streisand and Brolin share a family that has grown even bigger in recent months.
Streisand is a mother to Jason Gould, 58, from her previous marriage to Elliott Gould, and a grandmother to stepson Josh Brolin’s two daughters, Chapel, 4, and Westlyn, 6, as well as stepdaughter Molly’s son, Soli, 3.
Celebrating 27 Years of Marriage
On July 1, Streisand and Brolin celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary, marking the milestone with a heartfelt post on Instagram. “We met on a blind date 29 years ago tonight, and we married 27 years ago today. I love you honey. B xo. ❤️” she shared, reflecting on their long and loving relationship.
Brolin, known for his humorous side, previously joked on the Today show in April that the best investment the couple has made over the years was their mattress.
“Don’t misunderstand me. We’re both lazy. We love to sleep late,” he said, adding, “We do a lot of our work on the phone, on paper, reading, right next to each other.”
A New Album and Return to the Spotlight
Streisand, who released her bestselling memoir, My Name Is Barbra, in November 2023, has also made her way back into the public eye with a new duets album, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, released on June 27.
The album features collaborations with a star-studded lineup, including Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Tim McGraw, Ariana Grande, and Mariah Carey.
When recalling her collaboration with McCartney, Streisand shares how the 83-year-old legend was the first to agree to join her on the project. “He was so sweet to me when I first came to London. I was there in the ‘60s, I think, and he invited me to his house with his wife Linda,” she recalls.
“It was just so kind of him, and he’s so wonderful. He’s such a great writer and I admire him, so that’s a no-brainer. [He] was the first one.”
Continuing Her Musical Journey
The Secret of Life marks Streisand’s first new album in seven years, following Walls in 2018. The 10-time Grammy winner admits that the “wonderful people” who collaborated with her on the new record were the driving force behind her return to the studio.
But she’s not stopping there. When asked if she has another album in her, Streisand answers confidently, “God, yeah. As long as I have a voice, I love the privacy of recording.”
She adds, “I love standing there in front of the mic and the music in my ears and singing. When I was 18 years old, I made my mother call up publishers to get free music. I still have that person inside, that kid. There are more songs I want to sing.”
The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two is out now, and fans can expect more from Streisand’s incredible musical journey.
