Barry Manilow announced that he received a diagnosis with a cancerous growth in his lung and is set to have an operation.
The octogenarian performer, whose parade of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" established him as one of pop music’s cherished showmen, will have an operation to remove part of his lung in an effort to combat the condition, which is in its early stages.
“For those who have been following, I recently went through six weeks of a bronchial infection followed by a return of another five weeks.
“Despite the fact that I was recovered from the illness and performing again in Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor requested an MRI just to ensure that all was clear.
“The MRI identified a malignant lesion on my left side that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a skilled doctor) that it was found so early.”
He has postponed a series of planned concerts, but suggested he would be returning to perform by Valentine’s Day for his long-running residency in Las Vegas.
He continued: “The medical team do not believe it has traveled and I’m having examinations to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is off the table. Just home remedies and favorite shows.
“I’m looking forward to until I rejoin my second home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our special weekend performances.”
Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a concert series in Nevada. The singer has been in the public eye 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. Last year, Manilow discussed how important his husband 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 empty hotel room, you can find yourself in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re on your own repeatedly,” he said.
“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was taking off. And I was spared from having to go back to those isolated suites. I had a person to share sorrows with or to celebrate with.
“I hope that young people don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”
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