Barry Manilow Reflects on Voice Concerns Before Farewell Tour After Lung Cancer Surgery and ICU Scare, as He Readies New Album and Stadium Dates
NEW YORK, NY — Barry Manilow says he is grateful to be back on his feet, but he is still worried about what happened to his voice after lung cancer surgery. In a new interview on Good Morning America, the singer said a left lung lobectomy has left him unsure whether his familiar sound will fully return before his farewell tour.
Manilow, best known for Copacabana and Mandy, said his first sound check after the operation made the problem impossible to ignore. He said he did not sound like himself and was upset by how different his voice felt. Even so, he said he is eager to perform again and hopes he can keep his emotions in check once he is back on stage.
Manilow says the diagnosis came after bronchitis led to an MRI
Manilow said his health scare began after about six weeks of bronchitis. Following that illness, doctors ordered an MRI, which led them to find what he called a “dot” or “spot” in his left lung. He said doctors then told him he had lung cancer and needed to have it removed.
The singer’s diagnosis was announced on Dec. 22, 2025, on his official website. At the time, he had just finished a Las Vegas residency and a five-night series of charity Christmas concerts in Palm Desert, California. He said the discovery was overwhelming and “too heavy” for him to carry before surgery.
Stage-one tumor was removed successfully, but pneumonia sent him to the ICU
According to Manilow, doctors identified the growth as a stage-one cancerous tumor in his left lung. He said the surgery to remove it was successful, and his doctors did not think he needed chemotherapy or radiation.
The recovery, however, was not simple. Manilow said he developed pneumonia and ended up in the ICU. He described the experience as terrifying and said there were moments when he feared he might not make it. He also praised the hospital staff, calling the nurses and doctors “angels” and “saints” for the care they gave him.
The singer says his voice feels different after the operation
For a performer whose career has stretched more than 50 years, the biggest concern now is not only stamina but sound. Manilow said he has taken his voice for granted for years, and the surgery made him realize how much it matters. He said he now understands that it no longer feels the way it always did.
That uncertainty surfaced during his first sound check about a month ago. Manilow said he was startled by how unlike himself he sounded, and that realization was upsetting. He said he does not want the music to stop, but he also does not know whether his voice will come back the way he hopes.
New album and chart success are building toward the comeback
Even while recovering, Manilow has been looking ahead to new music. His song Once Before I Go, released in September 2025, reached the top 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart earlier this year. The track will also appear on his upcoming album, What a Time, set for release on June 5.
Manilow said he has spent time reflecting on his life and asking whether he has done enough and been good to the people around him. He said the outpouring of support from fans around the world surprised him, with messages of concern and prayer arriving again and again.
Tour dates remain in place as Manilow turns 83
Manilow said he is “doing good” now, though recovery took longer than he expected. He is also approaching his 83rd birthday on June 17, a milestone that has prompted him to think about what he still wants to accomplish onstage and off.
His schedule remains unchanged for now. His first stadium show is set for June 25, and his next Las Vegas residency dates are scheduled for July. Manilow said he cannot wait to return, but he will not know until he is back onstage whether his voice is ready to meet the moment.
Chicago's music scene, one story at a time — Chicago Music Guide.
