Barry Manilow is one of the most iconic singers of all-time with one of the most recognizable voices ever. Yet, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2025, a part of him fell apart, and he did not know what would happen next. Now, he is opening up about how he feels amid his diagnosis. Keep reading for more details.
Barry Manilow Has Been Hit Hard Since Diagnosis
For decades, Barry Manilow has had one of the most identifiable voices in the music industry. He has had hit after hit with songs like “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs”, and “Copacabana.” Fans flocked to him, and all of the shows that he performed, but things have not always been easy. Women loved Manilow and attending his concerts, but he always hid his sexual orientation. However, he had been in a same-sex relationship with Garry Kief in 1978. Kief would go on to become his manager, and the two tied the knot in 2014.
Manilow finally came out in 2017, and although he was nervous about what his followers would think, no one was upset or mad. Rather, they were beyond supportive, which was great. Sadly, the former smoker learned he had lung cancer in 2025, and it struck the 82-year-old very hard. Although he is lucky to be alive, Manilow admitted that a large part of him is gone, and he has had to find a way to deal with that:
“You just don’t even think about [how fragile life is]. And suddenly, you have lung cancer. But I’m still here. I’m not all here; there’s part of me that isn’t here — they took out a part of me, and now I’ve got to figure out, ‘What do I do?’”
Admittedly, Barry Manilow’s cancer could have gone unnoticed had he not had a lung MRI. He shared that he was asymptomatic, but the MRI is what saved his life. The cancer may have been in him for years; the time is unknown. Regardless, finding and treating it has saved his life, and Manilow is well aware of that fact:
“It could have been years. If it had gone any further, then I would be up s—’s creek. It just so happened that it hadn’t spread, and boy oh boy, I thought I might be dying.”
Trying His Hardest
The New York City native had to postpone his shows in order to heal and get better. However, Barry Manilow is moving on and proving that he is stronger as time goes by. He has a new album coming out this summer and is set to head back out on tour in April. Yet, Manilow does not know what his strength will be like when that time comes. For now, he is taking it day by day and hoping that his fans will understand. It seems that they want him to get better, but also want to see Barry Manilow live:
- I had tickets for a January concert in Duluth GA and it was postponed until April 29th. This will be my FIRST Barry Manilow concert and I can’t wait. I certainly hope it doesn’t get cancelled. I’m 60 and this has been on my bucket list FOREVER!! Get Well Soon, Barry!! I need to see you in concert!
Hopefully, he will get enough strength and energy back so that he can give the fans exactly what they want and more. Are you a Barry Manilow fan and had you hoped to see him in concert? Let us know in the comments below.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.
