Barry Manilow, the singer-songwriter known for hits such as “Copacabana,” announced Monday that he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and will have to reschedule his January shows to undergo surgery.
This was reported by 82-year-old Manilov. statement on Instagram that an MRI revealed a “cancerous spot” on one of his lungs after he suffered a prolonged bout of bronchitis mid-residency in Palm Springs, California.
“As many of you know, I recently suffered from bronchitis for six weeks, followed by a relapse for another five weeks. Even though I recovered from bronchitis and returned to the stage at Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure everything was okay,” Manilow said in a statement. “The MRI revealed a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed.”
“It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was caught so early,” Manilow said, adding that he will have surgery to remove the spot.
“Doctors do not believe that the infection is spreading, and I am undergoing tests to confirm the diagnosis,” he said. “So, that's it. No chemotherapy. No radiation. Just chicken soup and reruns of I Love Lucy.
Manilow just finished a series of Christmas shows at the McCallum Theater in Palm Springs. He said his January concert dates will be rescheduled as he recovers from surgery.
The singer assured fans that he will be back to work by February and intends to perform in honor of Valentine's Day in Las Vegas.
where he has his permanent residence. He was scheduled to perform in other U.S. cities as part of a tour that begins in early January. According to the singer, the January concerts were to take place in arenas in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia. website. In a statement on Monday, Manilov said they would be rescheduled for February, March and April. Later this year, Manilov's tour will take him to the UK.
“I’m really sorry you had to change your plans,” he said.
“Like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hated moving everything,” he added. “In the meantime, I'm counting down the days until I return to my home away from home at Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine's Day shows on February 12-13-14 and throughout 2026. Something tells me this February weekend is going to be one big party.”
