Iconic Singer Barry Manilow Scheduled for an Operation for Cancer in His Lung.

The singer has disclosed that he was diagnosed with cancer of the lung and will be having a surgical procedure.

Cancer Caught Early

The octogenarian performer, famous for his series of upbeat chart-toppers from "I Write the Songs" cemented his status as one of pop music’s enduringly popular performers, will have an operation to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to treat the condition, which is in its early stages.

“As my fans are aware, I recently suffered from six weeks of a bronchial infection followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.

“Although I was recovered from the illness and performing again for my residency, my excellent physician requested an MRI just to make sure that all was clear.

“The MRI detected a cancerous spot on my left lung that must be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a skilled doctor) that it was caught so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has delayed a series of forthcoming live performances, but suggested he would be on stage again by mid-February for his enduring engagement at his Vegas home.

He went on to say: “The medical team do not believe it has traveled and I’m having examinations to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiotherapy. Just rest and recuperation and favorite shows.

“I’m looking forward to until I come back to my familiar venue for our Vegas run for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”

Decades in the Spotlight

Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the public eye and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after marrying his partner of many years, Garry Kief privately in 2014.

The duo were in a private partnership for more than 35 years. Last year, Manilow discussed how vital Kief had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.

“As my career exploded, it was just hectic. And, you know, returning to an empty hotel room, you can get into a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re on your own repeatedly,” he said.

“But I met Garry right around when it was blowing up. And I didn’t have to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had a person to share sorrows with or to share joys with.

“I wish that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was joyful.”