Music Legend Barry Manilow to Undergo Surgery for Lung Cancer.

Barry Manilow has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer of the lung and is set to have an operation.

Cancer Caught Early

The 82-year-old singer, known for a string of upbeat chart-toppers from "Mandy" established him as one of pop music’s most beloved performers, will have an operation to extract a portion of his lung in an effort to combat the illness, which is detected early.

“As many of you know, I recently suffered from six weeks of a bronchial infection followed by a relapse of another five weeks.

“Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage in Las Vegas, my excellent physician ordered an MRI just to make sure that there were no issues.

“The MRI identified a cancerous spot on my left lung that requires removed. It’s incredible chance (and a skilled doctor) that it was discovered so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has rescheduled a number of upcoming live performances, but suggested he would be returning to perform by Valentine’s Day for his enduring residency in Las Vegas.

He added: “The medical team do not believe it has traveled and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is off the table. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I come back to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”

Decades in the Spotlight

Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a residency in Nevada. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the limelight and revealed he is gay in 2017, after tying the knot with his partner of many years, Garry Kief confidentially in 2014.

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

“As my career exploded, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, going back to an lonesome hotel suite, you can get into a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re alone 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 cry with or to enjoy success with.

“I hope that newcomers 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 very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”