Barry Manilow announced Monday that he has lung cancer and will postpone his January performances to undergo surgery.
The 82-year-old singer-songwriter revealed the diagnosis in statement posted via Instagram on Monday. He said he recently had bronchitis for two periods of several weeks, so his doctor ordered an MRI as a precaution.
“The MRI revealed a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed,” he wrote.
“It was pure luck (and a great doctor) that he was caught so early,” he said. “Doctors do not believe that the infection is spreading, and I am undergoing tests to confirm the diagnosis,” he added.
Manilow is “going in for surgery to remove the spot,” forcing him to reschedule the January performances of his “Christmas: A Gift of Love” concerts.
His new performance schedule will begin after the Valentine's Day shows in Las Vegas and run from late February through April.
“We were all looking forward to the January shows and hated having to rearrange everything,” Manilow said, apologizing to fans for the schedule changes.
He encouraged his fans to be proactive about their health, writing: “If you have even the slightest symptom, get tested!”
A native New Yorker, Manilow is a Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning musician whose hits include “Copacabana” and “Mandy.” In 2002 he was accepted into the ranks Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Manilow has been married to her husband Harry Keefe since 2014. The couple's primary residence is in Palm Springs, California.
