Music Legend Barry Manilow to Undergo Surgery for Cancer in His Lung.
Barry Manilow announced that he was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and will be having an operation.
Early-Stage Diagnosis
The octogenarian performer, whose parade of high-spirited hits from "Copacabana" established him as one of pop music’s most beloved performers, will have surgery to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to treat the illness, which is in its early stages.
“As my fans are aware, I recently endured six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks.
“Although I was past the infection and back on stage for my residency, my excellent physician insisted on an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.
“The MRI discovered a malignant lesion on my left lung that must be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early.”
Postponed Performances
He has postponed a series of upcoming shows, but stated he would be returning to perform by mid-February for his long-running residency at his Vegas home.
He continued: “The doctors do not believe it has metastasized and I’m taking tests to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemotherapy. No radiotherapy. Just chicken soup and classic TV.
“I’m counting the days until I rejoin my home away from home for our Vegas run for our February love-themed shows.”
A Long Career and Personal Life
Manilow is now in the 16th year of a show on the Las Vegas Strip. 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 couple were in a clandestine relationship for in excess of 35 years. Last year, Manilow spoke about how crucial Kief had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.
“As my career exploded, it was just crazy. And, you know, coming home to an lonesome hotel suite, you can get into a lot of problems if you, you know, you’re by yourself repeatedly,” he said.
“But I found my partner right around when it was blowing up. And I didn’t have to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had a person to be vulnerable with or to celebrate with.
“I wish that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”
