Barry Manilow to Undergo an Operation for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.
Barry Manilow announced that he has been diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and will undergo a surgical procedure.
Cancer Caught Early
The 82-year-old singer, known for a string of upbeat chart-toppers from "Copacabana" cemented his status as one of pop music’s most beloved entertainers, will have surgery to extract a portion of his lung in an effort to fight off the disease, which is detected early.
“As my fans are aware, I recently endured six weeks of bronchitis followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.
“Even though I was past the infection and performing again at the Westgate Las Vegas, my excellent physician ordered an MRI just to be certain that all was clear.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left side that must be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was discovered so early.”
Concert Delays
He has delayed a string of upcoming shows, but stated he would be on stage again by Valentine’s Day for his enduring residency in Las Vegas.
He went on to say: “The physicians do not believe it has spread and I’m having examinations to support their conclusion. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiation. Just home remedies and I Love Lucy reruns.
“I’m looking forward to until I rejoin my familiar venue at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
Decades in the Spotlight
Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has spent decades in the spotlight and revealed he is gay in 2017, after tying the knot with his longtime partner and manager confidentially in 2014.
The couple were in a private relationship for over 35 years. In 2023, Manilow discussed how crucial Kief had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.
“As my career exploded, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, returning to an lonesome hotel suite, you can get into a lot of problems if you, you know, you’re on your own night after night,” he said.
“But I met Garry right around when it was exploding. And I no longer had to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to share sorrows with or to enjoy success with.
“I hope that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you get yourself in trouble. I never did. But it was very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”