Barry Manilow has been in the entertainment industry for over 60 years. His early start was writing commercial jingles before becoming Dionne Warwick’s opening act. He received global stardom in 1974 with his smash hit, “Mandy.” The crooner turns 83 in mid-June. In a candid interview, he opened up about his desire to return to the stage after a battle with lung cancer that changed his voice forever. Keep reading for all the details.
Barry Manilow Thought Career Was Done After Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Barry Manilow announced in December 2025 that he’d been diagnosed with stage one lung cancer. The singer had been a smoker for years before quitting in his 30s. Medical tests revealed the shocking diagnosis after a persistent bout of bronchitis.
The singer underwent surgery immediately and was given a clean bill of health. But it was still a scary experience. “There was a couple of moments there that I thought this may be goodbye,” he admitted during an interview with Good Morning America last week.
“Since the surgery, I can’t go on the road. Ninety minutes of screaming in tune, which is what I do for a living – I’m not up for that yet. I will be, but it’s taking a long time to get my voice back. I did my first sound check about a month ago and I didn’t sound like me at all,” he added.
But he’s not giving up hope.
Legendary Crooner Plots Return To Stage Despite Singing Difficulty
Barry Manilow may be unsure of his voice right now, but his team strongly believes in him. The crooner already has a stadium show schedule for late June and a Las Vegas residency in July. A source close to the singer told Radar Online that Barry Manilow is determined to regain his strength and return to the stage.
That includes putting on the weight he lost during the cancer battle. He dropped from 156 to 128 immediately after the cancer battle. But the source said Barry Manilow has been putting in the work at the gym. “Barry loves music as much as anyone I’ve ever known,” Bette Midler once said of the iconic performer.
Despite his fears about his voice, he seemed hopeful while speaking to GMA. “I can’t wait to get back. I’m in great shape, I’m ready to go. I just hope my voice is there. If I sound good, that would be just great. I really don’t want to cry on stage, but I don’t know whether I’ll be able to hold that back this time,” he told the outlet.
Barry Manilow won’t be the only one in tears when he finally returns to the stage. The “Copacabana” singer received a massive outpouring of love and support when he announced the cancer diagnosis. Stay tuned for more on his long-awaited return to the stage.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
