Barry Manilow Will Have a Procedure for Lung Cancer.

Barry Manilow has revealed that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will be having an operation.

Early-Stage Diagnosis

The octogenarian performer, whose parade of upbeat chart-toppers from "Copacabana" has made him one of pop music’s most beloved entertainers, will have a procedure to extract a portion of his lung in an effort to treat the illness, which is detected early.

“As many of you know, I recently suffered from six weeks of bronchitis followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.

“Although I was recovered from the illness and back on stage in Las Vegas, my excellent physician requested an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.

“The MRI discovered a tumor on my lung that requires removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was caught so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has delayed a number of planned live performances, but stated he would be returning to perform by mid-February for his longstanding concert series at his Vegas home.

He added: “The medical team do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just rest and recuperation and favorite shows.

“I’m counting the days until I rejoin my familiar venue for our Vegas run for our February love-themed shows.”

A Long Career and Personal Life

Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a concert series on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has been in the limelight and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after marrying his partner of many years, Garry Kief confidentially in 2014.

The duo were in a clandestine relationship for over 35 years. Last year, Manilow reflected on how crucial his husband had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just crazy. And, you know, going back to an empty hotel room, you can land in a lot of problems if you, you know, you’re alone evening after evening,” he said.

“But I met Garry right around when it was taking off. And I no longer had to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to be vulnerable with or to celebrate with.

“I desire that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you get yourself in trouble. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”