Barry Manilow, 82, reveals he is battling lung cancer and will undergo surgery

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Barry Manilow is battling lung cancer he revealed on Monday morning with an Instagram note.

The 82-year-old singer from Copacabana recently told his fans he has lung cancer. He’ll be having surgery soon to remove the affected area.

The singer mentioned he had an MRI because he’d been dealing with bronchitis for several weeks, and that’s when doctors found the spot.

Let’s talk about making healthier choices! As someone who’s always been interested in well-being, I know how tough habits can be. Barry Manilow, for example, started smoking very young – he actually began when he was just nine years old. Thankfully, he’s made a positive change recently and has switched to vaping instead. It’s great to see people taking steps towards better health, even after years of a different routine!

He was seen vaping last week in Palm Springs in photos obtained by Daily Mail.

His statement was posted early in the morning. 

He explained that he recently battled bronchitis for six weeks, and then unfortunately experienced another five weeks of illness as it returned.

I’d recovered from bronchitis and was performing at the Westgate Las Vegas again, but my doctor wanted to be extra cautious and ordered an MRI to confirm I was fully healthy.

An MRI revealed a cancerous spot on my left lung, and I’ll need surgery to remove it. Fortunately, it was caught early – thanks to a bit of luck and a fantastic doctor. That’s the positive side of things.

He announced he needs some time to recover. He explained that now that the Christmas Gift Of Love concerts are finished, he’s having surgery to remove a growth. Doctors don’t think it’s spread, and he’s getting tests to be sure. Thankfully, he won’t need chemotherapy or radiation – just rest, soup, and watching ‘I Love Lucy’!

The popular artist had planned to begin a U.S. tour in January 2026. The tour included stops in nine cities, such as Orlando, Tampa, Charleston, Greensboro, and Columbus.

He has talked about his smoking habit with the London Evening Standard over a decade ago.

I started smoking when I was just nine years old and continued for about 30 years, growing up in Brooklyn. I quit for around 15 to 20 years, but then I relapsed while in Las Vegas. The band and I were at a small club, and someone offered me a cigarette, and I started smoking again.

I was back to smoking within a week, though not as heavily as before. At my worst, I used to go through three packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day. I was a serious smoker, that’s for sure.

Barry Manilow has faced several health challenges throughout his career, including problems with his vocal cords, bronchial infections, and throat cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and thankfully received successful treatment.

He said he switched from smoking cigarettes to vaping more than ten years ago.

Barry Manilow explained that while vaping isn’t a solution for everyone, it personally helped him quit smoking. He told The Evening Standard, ‘It worked for me, my band, and my crew – all of us who struggled to give up cigarettes.’

The Copacabana hitmaker has been seen vaping in public and at events before.

Despite facing a history of serious health challenges – including pneumonia, a tumor in his mouth, heart issues, and hip surgery – the singer known as Mandy says he’s surprised he’s still able to perform.

In a 2019 interview with the Daily Mirror, he said he was doing okay, but felt like something bad was still coming. He also expressed surprise at his ability to keep going, given his age.

Honestly, when you saw me walk onto that stage, it looked a lot more daunting than it was! There were fourteen steps leading up, and then fourteen steps back down – it definitely made me feel a little older, and I joked I should’ve been using a wheelchair! It’s funny how something so simple can feel like a real challenge sometimes.

He’s also said his love of music and performing is what keeps him going.

The songwriter, famous for creating globally popular hits, hinted in a 2015 interview with Palm Springs Life that he has plenty more music still to come.

He also mentioned he was glad his music career took off, saying he’d be in a difficult situation if it hadn’t.

I honestly don’t know how to do much but this, and it’s truly my only passion. You’d think after decades of recording every genre imaginable – pop, big band, Broadway, jazz, you name it – I’d have explored every musical color that appeals to me. But there’s always something new, some sound I haven’t chased yet, always another creative avenue to explore. It’s endlessly fascinating!

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2025-12-22 18:19