Barry Manilow, the legendary singer known for his iconic hit “Copacabana,” is facing an uncertain future with his voice after undergoing surgery in December to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. At 82 years old, the performer has had to cancel several shows and his Las Vegas residency this year as he focuses on recovery.
Manilow recently shared his concerns in an interview with Good Morning America, expressing uncertainty about whether his singing voice will return to its former glory. “My voice, I don’t know whether it’s coming back,” he said. “I did my first sound check about a month ago, and I didn’t sound like me at all. I just couldn’t believe that it’s over.”
The revelation was particularly upsetting for Manilow, who has always taken his voice for granted. “I don’t want to stop,” he admitted. He described the moment when he realized something was wrong: “I looked at my band, and they were all looking at the floor.” This was the first sign that his voice wasn’t where it used to be.
Despite the challenges, Manilow remains optimistic about his overall health. “I’m doing good. It took longer than I thought it was going to take to get past this lung cancer,” he said. “I’m in great shape, I’m ready to go. I just hope my voice is there. If I sound good, that would be just great!”
When he was first diagnosed with lung cancer, Manilow admitted he didn’t take it seriously. “I paid no attention to it. It was just too heavy for me.” Fortunately, his surgery was successful, and doctors determined he wouldn’t need chemotherapy or radiation. However, he later faced another challenge when he contracted pneumonia and spent seven days in the ICU.
Manilow spoke about his experience in a teaser for the Good Morning America broadcast. “I was in the ICU for seven days because they couldn’t grasp this pneumonia that was just about killing me,” he said.
Throughout the year, Manilow has had to reschedule multiple performances as he continues his recovery. A February visit to his surgeon ahead of his anticipated return to the stage left him feeling “very depressing.” Despite his efforts to stay in shape by using the treadmill three times a day, his surgeon advised against resuming the previously postponed concerts.
In March, Manilow described the situation as “a nightmare” but also acknowledged his good fortune. “I’m one of the lucky ones; I don’t have to have chemo, radiation and all that stuff,” he said.
Over the course of his six-decade career, Manilow has released more than 30 studio albums, including the 1978 album Even Now, which features his most famous hit “Copacabana.” Other notable songs include “Even Now,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Somewhere in the Night,” “Mandy,” “Somewhere Down the Road,” and “Could It Be Magic.”
Despite his concerns about his voice, Manilow is still planning to launch his farewell tour, titled The Last Concerts, on June 25. From July 9 through December 19, he will resume his Las Vegas residency before concluding the tour in January 2027.
