Barry Manilow Will Have Surgery for Cancer in His Lung.

The singer has disclosed that he received a diagnosis with lung cancer and will undergo surgery.

Early-Stage Diagnosis

The 82-year-old singer, famous for his series of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" cemented his status as one of pop music’s enduringly popular entertainers, will have an operation to remove part of his lung in an effort to combat the condition, which is in its early stages.

“For those who have been following, I recently endured six weeks of a bronchial infection followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.

“Although I was over the bronchitis and returned to the spotlight at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor requested an MRI just to ensure that there were no issues.

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

Concert Delays

He has postponed a number of planned live performances, but stated he would be returning to perform by Valentine’s Day for his long-running engagement at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

He went on to say: “The doctors do not believe it has traveled and I’m undergoing further tests to support their conclusion. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m counting the days until I return to my familiar venue in Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”

Professional and Personal Journey

Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a show at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the limelight and came out as gay in 2017, after wedding his partner of many years, Garry Kief confidentially in 2014.

The couple were in a private relationship for more than 35 years. In 2023, Manilow discussed how crucial Kief had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just hectic. And, you know, returning to an empty hotel room, you can land in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re by yourself repeatedly,” he said.

“But I found my partner right around when it was taking off. And I didn’t have to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to be vulnerable with or to celebrate with.

“I hope that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”