Barry Manilow Says Lung Cancer Surgery May Have Changed His Voice as He Prepares Farewell Tour, New Album and 83rd Birthday This Summer

NEW YORK, NY — Barry Manilow says the lung cancer surgery he underwent after a diagnosis last year may have changed the way his voice sounds as he gets ready for a farewell tour. In an interview on Good Morning America, the 81-year-old singer said a recent sound check left him worried that his familiar voice might not fully return.

Manilow said he is still determined to perform, but admitted the change has been emotional. The performer behind “Copacabana” and “Mandy” said he had taken his voice for granted for decades, and now realizes how much it mattered until it seemed to be missing.

How the diagnosis led to surgery and a longer recovery

Manilow’s cancer diagnosis was announced on Dec. 22, 2025, on his official website after a stretch of bronchitis that lasted about six weeks. He had just finished a Las Vegas residency and a five-night run of charity Christmas concerts in Palm Desert, California, when doctors ordered an MRI following the illness.

That scan led to the discovery of a spot in his left lung, which Manilow said was diagnosed as a stage-one cancerous tumor. He underwent surgery to remove it and said his doctors did not recommend chemotherapy or radiation. Even so, the recovery was not simple, because he later developed pneumonia and ended up in the ICU.

Manilow describes the fear of losing his voice

The singer said the most upsetting part of the experience has been the uncertainty around singing again. After his first sound check in roughly a month, he said he did not sound like himself and was stunned by how different his voice felt.

He said the recovery has made him more aware of how closely his career has depended on a tool he once assumed would always be there. Manilow said the possibility that the voice he built a long career on could change so dramatically has been hard to accept, even as he continues moving ahead with plans to perform.

A terrifying hospital stay after pneumonia landed him in the ICU

Manilow said the cancer itself was frightening, but the pneumonia that followed surgery pushed the ordeal to another level. He described the hospital experience as terrifying and said there were moments when he thought it might be goodbye.

He also singled out the doctors and nurses who cared for him, saying their kindness left a deep impression. Manilow said he felt overwhelmed by how often he found himself thinking about the medical team and how they helped him through a period he called one of the most difficult of his life.

The singer is reflecting on longevity, gratitude and a 50-year career

As he approaches his 83rd birthday on June 17, Manilow said he has been thinking more about what he has done with his life and whether he has been good to the people around him. He said his music has always been about making listeners feel good, which is why the support he received after the diagnosis meant so much.

Manilow said the flood of messages and prayers from fans around the world surprised him. He has spent more than five decades in the spotlight, and the response reminded him how widely his songs have traveled and how personally many listeners connect to them.

New music, chart success and a packed summer of shows

Even with his health concerns, Manilow’s schedule remains in place. His first stadium show is set for June 25, and additional Las Vegas residency dates are planned for July, giving fans a chance to see whether his voice settles back in time for the run of performances.

He also has a new album coming out June 5 titled What a Time. One of its songs, “Once Before I Go,” was released in September 2025 and reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart earlier this year, giving Manilow another reminder that his music is still connecting with audiences now.

Chicago's music scene, one story at a time — Chicago Music Guide.