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Barry Manilow announced that he is preparing for surgery after doctors discovered an early-stage cancerous spot on his lung, a development that has led him to reschedule his January performances. At 82, Manilow disclosed the news online, saying doctors uncovered the condition only after lingering health issues led to further evaluation beyond his initial treatment.
"As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks," Manilow wrote. Although he had returned to performing, he said his doctor ordered additional tests as a precaution. "My wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK," he explained. "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."
According to a statement from his representatives, the tumor was identified as stage one, and doctors do not believe the cancer has spread. Manilow confirmed that he will not require further treatment beyond surgery. "The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm their diagnosis," he wrote. "So, that's it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns."
His arena concerts scheduled for January will be rescheduled. Manilow had been set to perform 10 shows across multiple states, including Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Ohio.
He apologized to fans for the inconvenience caused by the schedule changes, acknowledging the disappointment around postponing the January shows and noting that both he and his team had been eagerly anticipating the performances.
Despite the health setback, Manilow said he remains hopeful about resuming performances in February, with plans to return for Valentine's weekend shows at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino starting February 12.
Manilow also urged his followers to be mindful of their health, encouraging people to seek medical testing if they notice any symptoms. He ended his message by extending holiday well wishes to fans, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
