Barry Manilow reveals lung cancer diagnosis but chooses surgery over chemo: “I’m still strong”
The beloved singer shares why he’s skipping traditional cancer treatments and staying focused on music
Barry Manilow has revealed he has lung cancer but says he won’t undergo chemotherapy or radiation. Instead, he’s opting for surgery and remains hopeful as fans rally around him.
Barry Manilow, the music icon behind classics like Copacabana and Mandy, shocked fans when he announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The 82-year-old singer said the diagnosis came in December after he experienced an unusually long case of bronchitis.
“I went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” he shared. “Even though I was over it and back on stage in Las Vegas, my doctor ordered an MRI just to be safe.”
That MRI revealed a cancerous spot on his left lung. “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early,” Manilow wrote.
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No chemo, no radiation—just surgery and a little humor
Instead of chemotherapy or radiation, Manilow is going with a different approach. He plans to have the cancerous spot surgically removed.
“The doctors don’t believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm that,” he said. “So that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
Fans were relieved when he posted a smiling hospital selfie on Instagram, captioned with the words, “Better today!”
Because of the surgery, Manilow had to postpone his January 2026 arena tour, which was set to hit nine U.S. cities. The shows have now been moved to February through April, with all original tickets still valid.
His Valentine’s weekend concerts in Las Vegas will still go on as planned. Calling it his “home away from home,” Manilow said, “Something tells me February is going to be one big party.”
He also left fans with an important reminder: “If you even have the slightest symptom, get tested!”
Manilow’s lung cancer diagnosis highlights the dangers of smoking—a habit he’s been open about in the past. In a 2012 interview, he revealed he started smoking at age 9 and continued for 30 years. He later quit, then resumed, and eventually switched to vaping.
According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.
“I’m just getting started”
This isn’t Manilow’s first health-related setback. In 2022, he tested positive for COVID-19 just hours before the debut of his stage musical Harmony. Despite the disappointment, he urged fans to attend without him.
Still, Manilow has no plans to slow down. In a 2023 interview, he said, “I think of people who are 80… they look older than I do. They’re retired. You know, that ain’t me. I’m just getting started.”
Even now, facing surgery, his passion for performing remains strong. “I’m still healthy. I’m strong and I’ve still got my voice and my energy,” he said. “The night I can’t hit the F natural on Even Now, that’s the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it.”
Since sharing his diagnosis, fans have flooded Manilow’s social media with heartfelt messages.
“You even make that hospital gown look fine!” one fan wrote. Another added, “Keep healing, Barry… You can do it. God is good all the time.”
Manilow has spent decades making people smile with his music. Now, as he faces a new kind of challenge, his fans are returning the love—loud and clear.
Stay strong, Barry. The world is cheering you on.
