Veteran entertainer Barry Manilow, who turns 83 this month, has revealed that his voice is in jeopardy six months after lung cancer surgery, casting uncertainty over a summer tour set to begin in late June. He said he could not believe it might be over and that he does not want to stop, as hundreds of thousands of fans hope to hear his hits one more time.
The singer described the moment he first sensed something was wrong, recalling that he looked to his band and saw them all staring at the floor. He said he had always taken his voice for granted, but now takes it seriously because it does not seem to be there the way it always was.
His health crisis emerged late last year during a Las Vegas residency. An MRI in November revealed a spot on his lungs, and he was told he had lung cancer that had to be removed. He said he had paid no attention to the possibility before, because it was too heavy to consider.
Doctors decided he did not need chemotherapy or radiation after a left lung lobectomy. He later landed in intensive care with pneumonia, spending seven days in the ICU. He said it was terrifying and that there were moments he thought it might be goodbye, praising the nurses and doctors who cared for him as angels and saints.
Speaking from the studio inside his Palm Springs home, Manilow reflected on the big questions of his life, asking himself whether he had done everything he wanted to do, whether he had been good to people and whether he had made people feel good through his music. He said he was shocked and moved by the messages of concern and prayers that came from people around the world.
Manilow, who has had a string of number one adult contemporary and pop hits, charted again earlier in 2026 with the song Once Before I Go from his new album What a Time. He joked that he had not had a top ten single in a very long time, and said he could not wait to get back.
The entertainer said he is in great shape and ready to return to the stage, but that he cannot yet be sure about his voice. He added that he hopes he sounds good when he performs again, and that he is not sure he will be able to hold back tears the next time he stands in front of an audience.