Iconic American singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has publicly disclosed his recent lung cancer diagnosis through an official Instagram announcement. The 82-year-old Grammy Award-winning artist, celebrated for timeless classics including ‘Copacabana’ and ‘I Write the Songs,’ revealed that the malignancy was detected during follow-up medical examinations for a persistent bronchitis condition.
Medical imaging procedures identified an early-stage cancerous lesion on his left lung, which Manilow described as being discovered through ‘pure luck (and a great doctor).’ The music legend emphasized the fortunate timing of this detection, noting physicians believe the cancer remains localized without evidence of metastasis to other areas.
The performing artist has scheduled surgical intervention to remove the affected tissue, necessitating cancellation of his remaining December 2025 and January 2026 concert engagements. In characteristic optimism, Manilow outlined his recovery expectations, indicating no requirements for chemotherapy or radiation treatments post-operation, humorously referencing planned convalescence with ‘chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.’
Despite this health challenge, Manilow has already projected his return to live performances, targeting mid-February 2026 for resumed appearances. Specifically, he anticipates returning to his Las Vegas residency at Westgate Las Vegas with scheduled Valentine’s weekend concerts on February 12-14, 2026, which he anticipates will transform into ‘one big party’ celebrating his recovery and musical legacy.