Barry Manilow to Undergo Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Barry Manilow announced that he was diagnosed with lung cancer and will be having surgery.

Cancer Caught Early

The 82-year-old singer, whose parade of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" has made him one of pop music’s enduringly popular showmen, will have a procedure to remove part of his lung in an effort to combat the illness, which is in its early stages.

“As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of a severe cough followed by a return of another five weeks.

“Although I was recovered from the illness and returned to the spotlight in Las Vegas, my attentive medical team ordered an MRI just to be certain that everything was OK.

“The MRI discovered a malignant lesion on my left side that must be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a fantastic physician) that it was found so early.”

Postponed Performances

He has delayed a number of upcoming live performances, but stated he would be returning to perform by mid-February for his long-running engagement at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

He went on to say: “The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m undergoing further tests to support their conclusion. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiotherapy. Just rest and recuperation and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m looking forward to until I return to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”

Professional and Personal Journey

Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a residency on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has spent decades in the public eye and came out as gay in 2017, after marrying his longtime partner and manager confidentially in 2014.

The duo were in a clandestine partnership for in excess of 35 years. In 2023, Manilow reflected on how important his partner had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just hectic. And, you know, going back to an empty hotel room, you can find yourself in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re on your own evening after evening,” he said.

“But I met Garry right around when it was blowing up. And I didn’t have to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had somebody to share sorrows with or to share joys with.

“I desire that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was quite isolating until I met Garry. And then it was joyful.”