Barry Manilow to Undergo a Procedure for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.

Barry Manilow announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer of the lung and is set to have an operation.

Cancer Caught Early

The 82-year-old singer, known for a string of beloved anthems from "Copacabana" cemented his status as one of pop music’s enduringly popular entertainers, will have surgery to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to fight off the illness, which is at an early phase.

“For those who have been following, I recently went through six weeks of a severe cough followed by a relapse of another five weeks.

“Despite the fact that I was over the bronchitis and returned to the spotlight for my residency, my attentive medical team ordered an MRI just to ensure that everything was OK.

“The MRI discovered a malignant lesion on my lung that requires removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a fantastic physician) that it was caught so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has delayed a series of forthcoming live performances, but suggested he would be returning to perform by the February holiday for his enduring residency at his Vegas home.

He continued: “The physicians do not believe it has metastasized and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just rest and recuperation and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I come back to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our special weekend performances.”

Decades in the Spotlight

Manilow is now in the 16th year of a residency at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has been in the spotlight and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after wedding his longtime partner and manager in secret in 2014.

The couple were in a private relationship for more than 35 years. In 2023, Manilow reflected on how crucial his partner had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.

“When my fame skyrocketed, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, returning to an vacant room, you can get into a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re on your own repeatedly,” he said.

“But I met Garry right around when it was blowing up. And I was spared from having to go back to those isolated suites. I had somebody to cry with or to celebrate with.

“I wish that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those suites 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.”