Barry Manilow Shares Health Update Amid Cancer Diagnosis

Barry Manilow recently provided an update regarding his health following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis. In an Instagram post shared on Friday, the 82-year-old singer appeared in a green hospital gown, smiling from his hospital bed. He captioned the photo with a hopeful message: “Today is better!”

Fans expressed their relief and joy at seeing the “Copacabana” singer in good spirits, filling the comments section with messages of love and encouragement. One fan wrote, “We love you, Barry!! God is great! Can’t wait to see you again soon.” Another mentioned, “Loved you Barry for 50 years! My heart skipped a beat when I heard you were sick. I’m so glad to see you are well and recovering.”

Manilow revealed that a cancerous spot was discovered on his lung through an Instagram announcement made in late December. He explained that after enduring “six weeks of bronchitis and another five weeks of flare-ups,” further tests were conducted, leading to a diagnosis. “Even though I overcame the bronchitis and returned to the stage at Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI to make sure everything was okay. The MRI revealed a cancerous spot in my left lung that needed to be removed. It was pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was caught this early,” he shared.

He also discussed the next steps, saying that surgery is scheduled to remove the spot now that the “Christmas A Gift of Love” concert has concluded. Doctors are optimistic that it’s not spreading, so he won’t require chemotherapy or radiation. Instead, he joked, “just chicken soup and reruns of ‘I Love Lucy.’

Apologizing to fans who had purchased tickets, he expressed how much he was looking forward to the January show. “I hate it,” he said, acknowledging the inconvenience, but emphasized that everything will have to be rescheduled.

Manilow, known for timeless hits like “I Write the Songs” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” reflected on his career in a past interview. In April 2024, he noted the unexpected success of his biggest song, “Copacabana,” mentioning he and co-producer Ron Duarte never anticipated it would become such a hit. “But when there were discotheques, we took it to the discotheque and had the DJ play it,” he recalled, highlighting how the song resonated with audiences.