Barry Manilow has shared that he’s been diagnosed with lung cancer, a revelation that has led him to postpone several January tour dates while he focuses on treatment and recovery.
The 82-year-old performer explained that the diagnosis came after an extended bout of bronchitis that refused to fully clear. He had spent weeks dealing with the illness, followed by a relapse, and even after feeling well enough to return to the stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, his doctor recommended additional imaging as a precaution. That decision turned out to be crucial.
The scan revealed what Manilow described as a “cancerous spot” on his left lung. He emphasized that it was discovered very early and credited both timing and medical care for that outcome. According to him, doctors do not believe the cancer has spread, though he is undergoing further tests to confirm that assessment.
Unlike many cancer treatment plans, his will not include chemotherapy or radiation. Instead, Manilow is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the affected area. He addressed fans in his familiar warm, lightly humorous tone, saying that his recovery plan involves rest, comfort food, and classic television rather than aggressive treatments.
Because of the upcoming surgery, Manilow’s arena tour, originally set to begin in January 2026 across nine U.S. cities, has been rescheduled to run from late February through April. All previously purchased tickets will still be honored. He also reassured fans that his Valentine’s weekend performances at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino—often described by him as his “home away from home”—are still expected to go ahead as planned.
In early January, he offered a brief but upbeat update on social media, posting a smiling selfie from what appeared to be a hospital bed. The image included a simple message that read, “Better today!”—a post that quickly drew waves of encouragement from fans.
Health challenges are not new territory for Manilow. In recent years, he has spoken openly about pushing through illness, including testing positive for COVID-19 just hours before the opening night of his stage musical Harmony in 2022. Even then, he urged audiences to attend and support the show in his absence.
He has also been candid about his long history with smoking, once revealing that he began at a very young age and continued for decades before quitting, later switching to vaping. Lung cancer is strongly associated with smoking, a connection he has never tried to minimize when discussing his own health.
Despite everything, Manilow has consistently said he has no plans to slow down. In past interviews, he has remarked that staying busy keeps him feeling sharp and energized, both mentally and physically. He has often joked that the night he can no longer hit certain demanding notes during live performances is the night he’ll consider retiring—and by his own account, that night hasn’t arrived yet.
Since announcing the diagnosis, fans have flooded his social media with messages of support, humor, and affection. Many praised his positive outlook, while others echoed his advice about paying attention to even minor symptoms and seeking medical care early.
For now, Manilow’s focus is firmly on surgery, recovery, and getting back to the music and live performances that have defined his life for decades. Even in the face of a serious diagnosis, his message has remained steady: he’s feeling strong, grateful it was caught early, and eager to return to the stage as soon as he can.
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