Music Legend Barry Manilow Will Have a Procedure for Cancer in His Lung.

Barry Manilow announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer of the lung and will be having an operation.

Early-Stage Diagnosis

The 82-year-old singer, known for a string of high-spirited hits from "Copacabana" cemented his status as one of pop music’s enduringly popular entertainers, will have a procedure to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to fight off the disease, which is detected early.

“As my fans are aware, I recently went through six weeks of a severe cough followed by a return of another five weeks.

“Even though I was past the infection and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor requested an MRI just to ensure that everything was OK.

“The MRI identified a cancerous spot on my lung that requires removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a fantastic physician) that it was discovered so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

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

He went on to say: “The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m having examinations to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemo. Radiation therapy is off the table. Just home remedies and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I rejoin my familiar venue at the Westgate Las Vegas for our special weekend performances.”

A Long Career and Personal Life

Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a residency at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has been in the spotlight and came out as gay in 2017, after tying the knot with his partner of many years, Garry Kief privately in 2014.

The duo were in a private romance for over 35 years. In 2023, Manilow spoke about how important Kief had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just hectic. And, you know, returning to an vacant room, you can find yourself 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 exploding. And I didn’t have to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to be vulnerable with or to share joys with.

“I wish that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was quite isolating until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”