Las Vegas, February 22, 2024 — Barry Manilow, the celebrated singer behind decades of hits like “Copacabana” and “Mandy,” has revealed he’s been diagnosed with lung cancer and will undergo surgery. The 82-year-old performer discovered the early-stage cancer during a routine MRI following a bout of bronchitis, and is optimistic about a full recovery.
A Pop Icon Faces a New Stage
The beloved singer shared his diagnosis and plans for treatment, aiming to return to his Las Vegas residency by Valentine’s Day.
- Manilow was diagnosed with lung cancer after recovering from bronchitis.
- He will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung.
- Doctors believe the cancer hasn’t spread and he won’t require chemotherapy or radiation.
- Manilow hopes to resume his residency at the Westgate Las Vegas by Valentine’s Day.
In a statement shared on social media, Manilow explained that he recently battled six weeks of bronchitis, followed by a five-week relapse. “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,” he wrote. The MRI revealed a cancerous spot on his left lung requiring removal. “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early,” he added.
What treatment does Barry Manilow need for his lung cancer? Manilow’s doctors do not believe the cancer has spread, and he is undergoing testing to confirm their diagnosis. He shared that his treatment plan will not include chemotherapy or radiation, but rather, “just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
Manilow has been a fixture at the Westgate Las Vegas for 16 years with his ongoing residency. He expressed his eagerness to return to the stage, stating, “I’m counting the days until I return to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
Manilow publicly came out as gay in 2017, revealing he had secretly married his manager and long-term partner, Garry Kief, in 2014. The pair had maintained a private relationship for over 35 years. In 2023, Manilow spoke about the importance of Kief’s support during his rise to fame in the 1970s.
“As my career exploded, it was just crazy,” Manilow recalled. “And, you know, going back to an empty hotel room, you can get into a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re alone night after night after night. But I met Garry right around when it was exploding. And I didn’t have to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had somebody to cry with or to celebrate with.”
He continued, “I wish that young people [today] don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you get yourself in trouble. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”
