Barry Manilow has postponed a run of dates from his Las Vegas residency after undergoing surgery to remove lung cancer, with the singer confirming that doctors advised him to prioritise recovery before returning to the stage.
The 81-year-old revealed late last year that a cancerous spot had been found on his lung and subsequently removed through surgery. While the procedure was successful, Manilow has now shared that his medical team recommended additional rest time, forcing him to delay several planned performances at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
@melissa_redford #barrymanilow #singing #concert #vegas #lasvegas ♬ original sound - Melissa Redford
The shows, which had been scheduled to take place between February 12 and February 21, will no longer go ahead as planned. In a statement shared on X, Manilow reassured fans that his recovery is progressing well, but confirmed that postponing the dates was the safest option.
“I want to share an update with you all. I'm doing great and recovering very well after my surgery,” he wrote. “I've been getting exercise and spending some time in the studio, which has been fantastic.”
However, he explained that the decision to delay the residency was made on medical advice. “With my doctor's guidance and recommendation, however, we have decided to postpone my residency dates at Westgate Las Vegas from February 12–21 so I can stay focused on healing and getting ready for the tour that's kicking off at the end of February,” he said.
Manilow added that the extra recovery time would be beneficial as he prepares to return to touring. “Having a few extra weeks to rest and prepare is what the doctor ordered,” he noted, confirming that tickets for the postponed shows will be refunded.
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The cancellation marks a temporary pause in what has been a remarkably enduring live career. Manilow’s Las Vegas residency has been one of the longest-running and most successful on the Strip, drawing fans from around the world with a catalogue that spans decades. Best known for hits such as Mandy, Copacabana, Can’t Smile Without You and I Write the Songs, he has sold more than 85 million records worldwide.
Despite stepping back from touring for a period in recent years, Manilow has remained active both creatively and on stage, regularly returning to Las Vegas for extended runs. His continued presence in live music has often been praised as a testament to his vocal discipline and dedication to performance.
Health concerns have become increasingly visible among veteran artists in recent years, with many opting to reduce schedules or postpone shows following medical advice. Manilow’s decision to delay the residency reflects that broader shift toward caution, even as demand for legacy performers remains high.
Barry Manilow appeared on Instagram on Friday to give his 118,000 followers a health update amid his lung cancer diagnosis.
The 82-year-old singer — who revealed his prognosis in late December — let his concerned audience know he's on the mend with a selfie. Sharing a photo taken in his hospital bed, the hitmaker captioned, 'Better Today!'
The top of his green hospital gown was visible in the picture as he rested with a soft smile on his face. Backup singer Melanie Taylor wrote a comment, 'That’s my boss y’all! He’s making it through the rain! Love you B!' and added prayer hand emojis.
And former Guns N Roses drummer Matt Sorum added, 'Heal up Barry, much love.'
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On December 22, Barry Manilow announced he is postponing his January concert dates after doctors discovered cancerous spots on one of his lungs, with the singer confirming he will undergo surgery in the coming weeks.
The 82-year-old Grammy-winning performer shared the update with fans on Monday, December 22, revealing that the cancer was found during routine scans following a prolonged bout of illness. According to Manilow, the discovery was made early and doctors are confident the cancer has not spread.
In a statement posted to social media, the singer explained that he had recently endured six weeks of bronchitis, followed by a five-week relapse, despite continuing to perform live at Westgate Las Vegas. As a precaution, his doctor ordered further tests.
“As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks. Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” Manilow said. “The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
In a career that has stretched across six decades, Barry Manilow has become synonymous with polished showmanship, lush arrangements, and a catalogue of songs that defined soft pop for a generation. But if it were up to a younger Barry, none of that would’ve happened, because he never actually wanted to be a singer.
Speaking ahead of his return to the UK for his Last Last Concert Tour, Manilow reflected on the unlikely way his voice ended up at the centre of his life’s work. “I know it sounds weird,” he said. “But I don’t consider myself a singer... I consider myself a musician. That’s what I wanted to do with my life... [be] an arranger, a songwriter, anything, but singing? On a stage? For an audience? That was crazy!”
For a time, that was exactly his plan: write songs, arrange music, maybe stay in the background. But once he’d written an album of songs he loved, someone had to sing them. That someone, much to his dismay, turned out to be him. “I stunk,” Manilow laughed. “I was so awful, but the audiences didn’t think so. They were telling me: ‘Keep going. We like this, we like what you’re doing,’ and that’s how [my career] began.”
It’s a modest story for a performer who has since sold over 85 million records, earned countless awards, and filled arenas around the world. Yet even now, at 82, he insists the disbelief never fully faded. “To this day I honestly don’t understand why they’re applauding so much, but I’m so happy that they’re still with me.”
Manilow had planned to say farewell with a final UK residency at London Palladium in 2024. But, true to form, he changed his mind. “When I got home, I realised that if I’m going to say goodbye, then I should say goodbye to each of these cities that I’ve loved,” he explained. “That will be the last time. But don’t listen to me, everything changes with me!”
Retirement, it seems, has no appeal. He’ll release his 32nd album, What a Time, this December, with the first single “Once Before I Go” already out. Manilow jokes that he’ll keep going “until I can’t hit the high F natural at the end of ‘Even Now.’”
But so far, he still can, and that’s why the applause keeps coming.
