Barry Manilow is set to undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot from his left lung. The pop icon revealed on social media that doctors discovered the abnormality during an MRI, which was performed after he experienced several weeks of bronchitis during his recent Christmas shows at the Westgate’s International Theater in Las Vegas. Manilow credited “pure luck (and a great doctor)” for catching the cancer early and shared that the good news is it was found before it could progress.
At 82, Manilow assured fans that he will not miss any of his scheduled shows at the Westgate, where he’s set to return for Valentine’s Day weekend performances from February 12-14. However, his upcoming arena tour dates in January across several cities—including Sunrise, Orlando, Tampa, Estero, and Jacksonville in Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Greensboro, North Carolina; and Columbus, Ohio—will be rescheduled. Vegas showman Dennis Blair was set to open those dates.
Manilow expressed optimism about his prognosis, noting that doctors do not believe the cancer has spread and that further tests are being conducted to confirm this. He added that no chemotherapy or radiation is planned, joking that his recovery will involve “just chicken soup and ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns.”
Westgate President and General Manager Cami Christensen extended support to Manilow, praising his extraordinary talent and longstanding relationship with the resort. She expressed hope for his smooth and speedy recovery and looked forward to his return for the Valentine’s Day shows.
Manilow currently holds the record for the most performances at the International Theater, having surpassed Elvis Presley’s record of 636 shows in September 2023.