Singer Barry Manilow Announces Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Postpones US Concerts

New York singer Barry Manilow, 82, announced on Monday that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will undergo surgery, leading him to reschedule several concerts planned for January.

In a statement released on his social media, the performer of hits like ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Mandy’ explained that he received the diagnosis incidentally after spending several weeks with respiratory issues.

“As many know, I recently spent six weeks with bronchitis, followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” Manilow stated, adding that despite having recovered and returned to the stage, his doctor ordered an MRI to ensure everything was fine.

The test detected “a cancerous spot” on his left lung that, according to doctors, must be removed.

“It’s pure luck—and a great doctor—that it was found so early,” the artist affirmed, emphasizing that specialists do not believe the cancer has spread.

“There will be no chemotherapy or radiation. Just chicken soup and reruns of ‘I Love Lucy,’” he joked on Instagram.

Manilow will undergo surgery in late December and will require approximately one month of recovery after the procedure. As a result, his concerts scheduled in the United States for January will be postponed to between February and April.

The singer apologized to his fans for the date changes: “I’m so sorry that you have to adjust your plans,” he wrote, while assuring that he hopes to return to the stage in February, coinciding with his traditional Valentine’s weekend residency in Las Vegas, where he maintains a permanent show.

Additionally, the artist took the opportunity to wish his followers happy holidays and encouraged everyone to seek medical check-ups “at the slightest symptom.”

Manilow rose to international fame in the 1970s thanks to a series of hits that made him one of the most popular figures in American pop, including ‘Mandy,’ ‘Copacabana,’ and ‘Can’t Smile Without You.’ His melodic style sold tens of millions of records and solidified a career spanning over five decades.