Barry Manilow Will Have Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Barry Manilow announced that he was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and is set to have surgery.

Spot Found in Initial Phase

The legendary 82-year-old artist, whose parade of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" established him as one of pop music’s most beloved showmen, will have a procedure to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to treat the condition, which is detected early.

“For those who have been following, I recently suffered from six weeks of a severe cough followed by a relapse of another five weeks.

“Even though I was recovered from the illness and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my excellent physician requested an MRI just to ensure that everything was OK.

“The MRI identified a cancerous spot on my left side that must be removed. It’s incredible chance (and a skilled doctor) that it was discovered so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has delayed a number of planned live performances, but suggested he would be on stage again by Valentine’s Day for his longstanding engagement at his Vegas home.

He went on to say: “The doctors do not believe it has metastasized and I’m undergoing further tests to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemo. Radiation therapy is off the table. Just rest and recuperation and favorite shows.

“I’m looking forward to until I come back to my second home in Las Vegas for our special weekend performances.”

A Long Career and Personal Life

Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has spent decades in the limelight and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after marrying his longtime partner and manager privately in 2014.

The duo were in a discreet relationship for over 35 years. In 2023, Manilow discussed how vital Kief had been to him during his ascent to stardom in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, going back to an lonesome hotel suite, you can find yourself in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re on your own evening after evening,” he said.

“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was exploding. And I didn’t have to go back to those isolated suites. I had somebody to be vulnerable with or to enjoy success with.

“I hope that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was quite isolating until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”