Barry Manilow to Undergo Surgery for Cancer in His Lung.
The singer has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with cancer of the lung and will undergo an operation.
Spot Found in Initial Phase
The octogenarian performer, famous for his series of upbeat chart-toppers from "I Write the Songs" has made him one of pop music’s cherished performers, will have a procedure to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to combat the illness, which is at an early phase.
“For those who have been following, I recently endured six weeks of bronchitis followed by a return of another five weeks.
“Even though I was over the bronchitis and performing again for my residency, my attentive medical team insisted on an MRI just to be certain that there were no issues.
“The MRI detected a tumor on my lung that must be removed. It’s incredible chance (and a great doctor) that it was found so early.”
Concert Delays
He has rescheduled a number of planned concerts, but suggested he would be on stage again by mid-February for his longstanding residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.
He went on to say: “The medical team do not believe it has metastasized and I’m taking tests to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemotherapy. No radiation. Just rest and recuperation and favorite shows.
“I’m eagerly awaiting until I come back to my second home for our Vegas run for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
Decades in the Spotlight
Manilow is now in the 16th year of a show at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the spotlight and came out as gay in 2017, after marrying his partner of many years, Garry Kief in secret in 2014.
The duo were in a clandestine relationship for more than 35 years. In 2023, Manilow reflected on how important his partner had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.
“As my career exploded, it was just hectic. And, you know, coming home to an empty hotel room, you can find yourself in a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re by yourself repeatedly,” he said.
“But I met Garry right around when it was taking off. And I was spared from having to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had a person to cry with or to celebrate with.
“I hope that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”