Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, 82, announced Monday that he has lung cancer.
“As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks. Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” Manilow wrote in a statement posted to social media.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news,” he added.
He said that doctors did not think the cancer had spread and that he would have additional tests to confirm their diagnosis. “No chemo,” he added. “No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
Manilow did not say when he would have the surgery, but he is expected to need a month to recover from it. That means, Manilow wrote in his statement, that nine concert dates scheduled for January will be postponed.
“Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around,” he wrote. “I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember, if you have even the slightest symptom…get tested!” Manilow said.
“I’ll see you at the Westgate Las Vegas for Valentine’s!” he added.
Manilow then shared the rescheduled dates from his farewell tour, which were supposed to take place in January 2026, including stops in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, as well as Columbus, Ohio.
“Ironically, I feel great and have no symptoms,” Manilow said in a statement. “I’m thankful that my doctors were proactive and ran tests that typically wouldn’t be done. They caught it very, very early.”
In June, Manilow discussed his upcoming farewell tour and reflections on his career with an interviewer, noting how he has been the last of his musical peers standing.
“It’s like, ‘What? Am I the only one left?’” he told a publication. “It’s Billy Joel, and Elton [John] is not well and Rod [Stewart] and Neil [Diamond]. Diana Ross is still in great shape, I think.”
Manilow continued, “There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. I’m still healthy. I’m strong and I’ve still got my voice and my energy. The night I can’t hit the F natural on ‘Even Now,’ that’s the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it.”