Barry Manilow to Undergo Surgery After Early-Stage Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Barry Manilow has announced that he will undergo surgery to remove what he described as a “cancerous spot” on his lung, a diagnosis he says was discovered early and is expected to have a positive outcome.
The veteran singer shared the news with fans in a statement posted to Instagram, explaining that the health issue was uncovered following a prolonged bout of bronchitis after completing his recent run of holiday performances in Las Vegas. According to Manilow, the discovery came during a precautionary visit to his doctor rather than as the result of any alarming symptoms.
“After six weeks of bronchitis and a five-week relapse, I went to my doctor just to make sure everything was OK,” Manilow wrote. “The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed.”
The singer emphasized that doctors believe the cancer was detected at an early stage and does not appear to have spread. Additional tests are currently being conducted to confirm that assessment, but Manilow said his medical team is optimistic. “The doctors do not believe it has spread,” he continued. “So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
Manilow, 81, said he is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the spot and expects a recovery period of approximately one month. As a result, several previously scheduled arena concerts in January will need to be postponed. The singer apologized to fans for the inconvenience, noting how difficult it is for him to reschedule performances, “I’m very sorry you have to change your plans,” he wrote. “Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around.”
While the January dates have been pushed back, Manilow expressed confidence that he will be able to resume performing in February. He plans to return to the stage for Valentine’s Day weekend concerts at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, a venue that has become a long-standing home base for the singer: “In the meantime, I’m counting the days until I return to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts on February 12-13-14 and throughout 2026,” he said.
The postponed shows were part of Manilow’s ongoing farewell tour schedule, which had been set to resume Jan. 6 in Sunrise, Florida, with additional stops planned in Tampa, Columbus, and other cities. New dates for those concerts have not yet been announced.
Manilow’s announcement arrives just months after the release of his latest recording, “Once Before I Go,” a reflective ballad produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Demonte Posey. The song was written by Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford and was originally performed by Hugh Jackman in the Broadway production The Boy From Oz. Manilow has said he long admired the song but waited until later in life to record it.
“I was too young to be able to sing it truthfully,” Manilow previously explained. “Now I understand it.”
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Manilow has remained one of pop music’s most enduring figures, with classic hits like “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” and “Can’t Smile Without You.” Despite multiple farewell announcements over the years, he has continued to record and perform selectively, often citing his deep connection with his audience as a motivating force.
