Iconic Singer Barry Manilow Will Have an Operation for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.

Barry Manilow has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and will be having surgery.

Spot Found in Initial Phase

The legendary 82-year-old artist, famous for his series of upbeat chart-toppers from "Copacabana" established him as one of pop music’s most beloved entertainers, will have a procedure to remove part of his lung in an effort to treat the condition, which is in its early stages.

“As my fans are aware, I recently endured six weeks of a severe cough followed by a return of another five weeks.

“Although I was recovered from the illness and returned to the spotlight in Las Vegas, my excellent physician ordered an MRI just to be certain that everything was OK.

“The MRI identified a cancerous spot on my left lung that must be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was caught so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has postponed a number of planned live performances, but stated he would be returning to perform by mid-February for his long-running concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

He added: “The physicians do not believe it has traveled and I’m taking tests to support their conclusion. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiotherapy. Just chicken soup and classic TV.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I come back to my second home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”

A Long Career and Personal Life

Manilow is now in the 16th year of a residency on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has spent decades in the public eye and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after tying the knot with his partner of many years, Garry Kief confidentially in 2014.

The couple were in a clandestine romance for over 35 years. Last year, Manilow reflected on how important Kief had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just crazy. And, you know, returning to an empty hotel room, you can land in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re by yourself night after night,” he said.

“But I found my partner right around when it was taking off. And I was spared from having to go back to those isolated suites. I had a person to cry with or to celebrate with.

“I hope that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was quite isolating until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”