Barry Manilow Will Have a Procedure for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.

Barry Manilow announced that he was diagnosed with lung cancer and is set to have a surgical procedure.

Cancer Caught Early

The legendary 82-year-old artist, known for a string of high-spirited hits from "Copacabana" has made him one of pop music’s cherished performers, will have a procedure to remove part of his lung in an effort to fight off the condition, which is at an early phase.

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

“Even though I was over the bronchitis and performing again at the Westgate Las Vegas, my excellent physician requested an MRI just to ensure that everything was OK.

“The MRI detected a malignant lesion on my left lung that requires removed. It’s pure luck (and a fantastic physician) that it was discovered so early.”

Concert Delays

He has rescheduled a series of upcoming shows, but stated he would be back on stage by mid-February for his long-running concert series at his Vegas home.

He continued: “The medical team do not believe it has spread and I’m undergoing further tests to support their conclusion. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiotherapy. Just rest and recuperation and classic TV.

“I’m looking forward to until I return to my second home in Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”

Decades in the Spotlight

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

The couple were in a private romance for over 35 years. Last year, Manilow discussed how vital Kief had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, coming home to an empty hotel room, you can find yourself in a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re by yourself repeatedly,” he said.

“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was exploding. And I was spared from having to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to share sorrows with or to celebrate with.

“I hope that young people 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 joyful.”