Iconic Singer Barry Manilow Scheduled for Surgery for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.

The singer has disclosed that he received a diagnosis with cancer of the lung and is set to have a surgical procedure.

Early-Stage Diagnosis

The octogenarian performer, famous for his series of high-spirited hits from "I Write the Songs" established him as one of pop music’s cherished showmen, will have surgery to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to fight off the condition, which is in its early stages.

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

“Despite the fact that I was past the infection and returned to the spotlight at the Westgate Las Vegas, my excellent physician ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.

“The MRI identified a malignant lesion on my left side that needs to be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a fantastic physician) that it was found so early.”

Postponed Performances

He has rescheduled a number of upcoming shows, but suggested he would be back on stage by the February holiday for his enduring residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

He added: “The physicians do not believe it has spread and I’m undergoing further tests to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is off the table. Just home remedies and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I rejoin my home away from home for our Vegas run for our February love-themed shows.”

Decades in the Spotlight

Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the public eye and came out as gay in 2017, after wedding his longtime partner and manager privately in 2014.

The pair were in a clandestine romance for more than 35 years. In 2023, Manilow spoke about how vital his husband had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.

“As my career exploded, it was just hectic. And, you know, going back to an vacant room, you can find yourself in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re alone night after night,” he said.

“But I found my partner right around when it was taking off. And I no longer had to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had a partner to be vulnerable with or to enjoy success with.

“I hope that young people don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was joyful.”