Barry Manilow Scheduled for Surgery for Cancer in His Lung.

Barry Manilow announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer of the lung and is set to have surgery.

Cancer Caught Early

The legendary 82-year-old artist, whose parade of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" has made him one of pop music’s cherished performers, will have surgery to extract a portion of his lung in an effort to fight off the disease, which is detected early.

“As my fans are aware, I recently suffered from six weeks of a severe cough followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.

“Despite the fact that I was over the bronchitis and performing again in Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor insisted on an MRI just to ensure that all was clear.

“The MRI discovered a malignant lesion on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a great doctor) that it was caught so early.”

Postponed Performances

He has postponed a number of planned live performances, but indicated he would be back on stage by Valentine’s Day for his enduring concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

He continued: “The physicians do not believe it has traveled and I’m having examinations to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiotherapy. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m counting the days until I rejoin my second home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”

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 revealed he is gay in 2017, after marrying his longtime partner and manager in secret in 2014.

The duo were in a discreet partnership for in excess of 35 years. In 2023, Manilow reflected on how crucial his partner had been to him during his ascent to stardom in the 1970s.

“As my career exploded, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, returning to an vacant room, you can get into a lot of problems if you, you know, you’re by yourself evening after evening,” he said.

“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was taking off. And I no longer had to go back to those isolated suites. I had a person to cry with or to celebrate with.

“I wish 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 very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”