Barry Manilow Reveals Tour Plans After Lung Cancer Surgery

Barry Manilow, the 82-year-old singer known for hits like "Mandy" and "Copacabana," has announced a series of new and rescheduled tour dates set to begin on February 27 in Florida. This comes after he underwent surgery in late December 2025 to remove a stage-one cancerous tumor from his left lung, which doctors found early thanks to routine tests following a long bout of bronchitis. Manilow's medical team reports the operation went well, with no signs the cancer has spread, and he faces no further treatments like chemo or radiation.

Background

Manilow first shared news of his diagnosis on December 22, 2025, right after wrapping up five nights of Christmas charity concerts at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California. Those shows raised money for nonprofits in the Coachella Valley. The cancer showed up on an MRI done after he recovered from 11 weeks of bronchitis. He had no symptoms from the tumor itself, which his doctors called pure luck in catching so early.

This is not Manilow's first fight with cancer. Back in 2020, during his Las Vegas residency, he faced throat cancer. Doctors treated it with surgery, and he had no sign of it coming back over the next five years. He kept performing sold-out shows, keeping his voice strong through care and therapy. That experience showed how performers need to watch for small changes in their health. Now, at 82, he faces this new challenge with the same focus on getting back to work.

Manilow built his career over six decades, selling millions of records and winning a Grammy. Fans know him for arena tours and long runs in Vegas. Even after health setbacks, he stays busy with concerts that mix his classics with new energy. His recent holiday shows proved he could still deliver, even with bronchitis lingering.

Key Details

The surgery happened in late December 2025, right after his charity concerts ended. Doctors removed the small tumor from his left lung. They plan to use lung-sparing methods like a wedge resection or segmentectomy if possible, to keep as much healthy tissue as he can. A full lobectomy might be needed based on what they found during the operation. Recovery takes about one month, which pushed back his January 2026 arena shows to March and April.

Tour Schedule

Manilow returns to the stage for Valentine's weekend on February 12, 13, and 14 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, his home base away from home. He called it a place for big parties. The tour then hits Florida on February 27, with more dates through March and April. Ten arena concerts moved from January now fill those later slots. He apologized to fans for the changes but promised strong shows ahead.

His team says doctors remain upbeat. Tests show the cancer stayed local, in stage one non-small cell lung cancer, the most common kind. No spread means surgery alone should handle it. Manilow posted updates from his hospital bed, including a selfie in a green gown with the words "Better Today!" Fans and his backup singer Melanie Taylor responded with support.

"Ironically, I feel great and have no symptoms. I’m thankful that my doctors were proactive and ran tests that typically wouldn’t be done. They caught it very, very early." – Barry Manilow

"No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns." – Barry Manilow

Manilow stayed positive in his messages. He counted days until Vegas and looked forward to making up lost time with fans.

What This Means

For Manilow, beating early-stage lung cancer means a strong chance at full recovery. Data on stage one non-small cell lung cancer shows five-year survival rates of 70 to 90 percent after surgery, especially for small tumors fully removed. Real-world results from surgery series put it at 65 to 75 percent for procedures like lobectomy or segmentectomy. His age and past cancer history add some risk, but early catch and no spread give good odds.

Fans get their shows back soon, starting with Vegas in mid-February. The rescheduled March and April dates keep his arena run alive. Charity work continues too, as his holiday concerts showed. His story highlights how routine scans after illness can spot problems early, even without signs. For other survivors, it shows lifelong checkups, as cancer risk grows with age.

Manilow's return sets up a busy 2026. He plans concerts through April at least, mixing hits with fresh takes. Vegas remains central, with its history of his long residencies. Doctors expect him back to normal after recovery, letting him perform at full strength. His upbeat tone suggests he sees this as a bump, not a stop. The tour announcement draws quick fan interest, filling seats for what he promises will be party-like nights.