It’s true that you wouldn’t think your voices would sound so good together, but they really do. It really works.

Well, because he allowed me to come in when he was singing, which is lovely. I mean, he didn’t allow, really, any of our producers to talk to him. He allowed me to kind of direct him, which I didn’t think he would. I started off by talking to him [about the past], and here we meet for the first time, and I think the song would be so perfect for both of us. He was just amazing to work with. People were kind of scared of him, but no, he was just professional and easy and lovely. And we made up for lost time.

In your memoir, My Name Is Barbra, you recall how you were starting your career at about the same time as the Beatles, so it’s amazing to also have that sort of full-circle moment with Paul McCartney on this album.

Streisand and Paul McCartney in 2014

Photo: Getty Images

I know. Isn’t that funny? But I’d met Paul McCartney before. As a matter of fact, I [first] met him when he still was with his wife, who died, unfortunately. She was so sweet. He invited me to his house when I was in England, I think when I was in Funny Girl. Or maybe it was before that, when I first came, because I remember sitting in his kitchen and meeting his wife. He was always very sweet and generous in that way. So it was great to actually sing with him now.

I was also quite struck by “I Love Us,” with Tim McGraw. You’ve often dipped into a country-western sound, but it sounds especially good on your voice now.

That’s one of my favorites. I think he has a great voice. I love the concept of the song, for people who are happily together—whether they’re married or not—the concept of I love us, what we are together. It’s such a warm, loving lyric. It’s wonderful. I hope the people love it too.

Did you ever consider recording a proper country album, the way that you’ve done other genre or themed albums?

A country album? Hmm. I don’t know if I’m good enough for that.