Barry Manilow has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The 82-year-old singer shared the health news in an Instagram statement on Monday.
“As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” he posted. “Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed.”
“It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early,” Manilow added. “That’s the good news.”
Barry Manilow explained that the “bad news” is that his upcoming surgery to remove the spot will force him to pause performances, sidelining him from his scheduled January concerts.
He went on to offer a heartfelt apology to fans for the disruption, expressing regret over the change in plans and noting that everyone involved had been eagerly anticipating the January shows. He added that rescheduling the performances was disappointing, but necessary, before sharing his updated concert dates.
Barry Manilow shared that his postponed January concerts have been moved and will now be held throughout February, March, and April.
The singer is also in the midst of his The Last Concerts series. Earlier this year, Manilow spoke with Billboard about his choice to move forward with the farewell run, reflecting on the timing and meaning behind the decision.
Barry Manilow is an iconic American singer, songwriter, and producer whose career has spanned more than five decades.
Born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, he studied music at the Juilliard School and Brooklyn College before breaking into the industry as a jingle writer. He famously wrote commercial tunes for brands like State Farm and Band-Aid before finding major success as a recording artist in the 1970s.
Manilow rose to fame with a string of chart-topping hits including Mandy, Copacabana (At the Copa), Could It Be Magic, I Write the Songs, and Looks Like We Made It. Known for his emotional ballads and polished pop sound, he became one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 85 million records sold worldwide.
In addition to performing, Manilow has worked extensively as a producer and arranger for other artists. He continues to tour and perform into his 80s and is currently celebrating his legacy with The Last Concerts series.