Barry Manilow Postpones Tour Dates After Health Scare

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Barry Manilow has announced he will be postponing the first leg of his upcoming arena tour after a recent doctor's visit revealed a cancerous spot on his left lung that needs to be removed. The 82-year-old performer shared an emotional message with fans, saying his doctor advised him he would not be able to complete a 90-minute show due to his current lung capacity. Manilow will undergo surgery to remove the spot and expects a month-long recovery period, leading him to reschedule shows from late February through March. However, he remains optimistic that his Las Vegas dates at the end of March and additional arena shows in April may still move forward as planned.

Why it matters

Manilow's health update is significant as he is one of the most iconic and successful pop artists of the 1970s, known for hits like "Copacabana" and "Can't Smile Without You." His openness about his medical challenges and willingness to postpone shows to prioritize his recovery will likely be met with empathy and support from his large fanbase, who have followed his decades-long career.

The details

In his Instagram post, Manilow revealed that despite using the treadmill three times a day, he still could not sing more than three songs in a row without stopping. When he told his doctor he believed he would be ready for his upcoming arena shows, the surgeon was not convinced, telling Manilow, "You won't be ready to do a 90 minute show. Your lungs aren't ready yet... You won't make it through." This led Manilow to make the difficult decision to reschedule the first leg of his tour from late February through March.

• Manilow recently completed a series of holiday charity performances in California in December 2025.
• Manilow was diagnosed with a cancerous spot on his left lung after an MRI ordered by his doctor in January 2026.
• Manilow will undergo surgery to remove the cancerous spot in the coming weeks, requiring about a month of recovery time.
• Manilow has rescheduled his arena tour dates from late February through March 2026.
• Manilow hopes to resume his tour, including Las Vegas dates at the end of March and additional arena shows in April 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Manilow will undergo surgery to remove the cancerous spot on his left lung in the coming weeks, requiring about a month of recovery time. He has rescheduled his arena tour dates from late February through March 2026, but remains hopeful that his Las Vegas dates at the end of March and additional arena shows in April 2026 may still move forward as planned.