Barry Manilow to Undergo a Procedure for Cancer in His Lung.

Barry Manilow has revealed that he received a diagnosis with cancer of the lung and will undergo a surgical procedure.

Early-Stage Diagnosis

The octogenarian performer, known for a string of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" cemented his status as one of pop music’s most beloved performers, will have an operation to remove part of his lung in an effort to fight off the illness, which is detected early.

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

“Even though I was over the bronchitis and returned to the spotlight in Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor insisted on an MRI just to make sure that all was clear.

“The MRI identified a tumor on my left side that needs to be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a fantastic physician) that it was discovered so early.”

Postponed Performances

He has rescheduled a string of planned concerts, but indicated he would be on stage again by Valentine’s Day for his long-running residency in Las Vegas.

He went on to say: “The physicians do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I rejoin my second home in Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”

Decades in the Spotlight

Manilow is now in the 16th year of a residency in Nevada. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the limelight and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after tying the knot with his partner of many years, Garry Kief privately in 2014.

The couple were in a private relationship for in excess of 35 years. Last year, Manilow spoke about how vital Kief had been to him during his explosion in popularity in the 1970s.

“As my career exploded, it was just crazy. And, you know, coming home to an vacant room, you can land in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re on your own evening after evening,” he said.

“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was exploding. And I didn’t have to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to cry with or to enjoy success with.

“I hope that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was quite isolating until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”