Barry Manilow has announced that he has been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer and will postpone his January performances while he undergoes surgery.
The 82-year-old singer/songwriter shared the news Monday in a statement posted to Instagram, explaining that lingering bronchitis earlier this year prompted his doctor to order precautionary imaging.
Manilow wrote: “The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed, stressing that the cancer was caught early: “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early,” he said, adding that physicians do not believe the disease has spread and that further tests are underway to confirm that assessment.
Because of the diagnosis, Manilow said he will have surgery now that his ‘Christmas: A Gift of Love’ concerts have concluded. “The bad news is that now that the Christmas is a Gift of Love concerts are over, I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed,” noting that doctors do not anticipate the need for further treatment: “So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”
However, the procedure will require Manilow to reschedule his January arena shows: “I’m very sorry that you have to change your plans .. Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around.”
Manilow plans to return to the stage after his Valentine’s Day weekend performances in Las Vegas, with shows running from late February through April. Despite the setback, he remained upbeat about his recovery and return. “Something tells me that February weekend is going to be one big party.” To conclude, Manilow also urged fans to prioritize their health. “If you have even the slightest symptom, get tested!”
A native of New York City, Manilow is a Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award winner best known for hits such as “Copacabana” and “Mandy,” and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. Manilow has been married to his husband, Garry Kief, since 2014, and they live primarily in Palm Springs, California.
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