Barry Manilow’s Health: A Complete Overview of What the Singer Has Shared About His Cancer and Heart Issues
By Website Content Manager
On December 22, Barry Manilow revealed that he needs to delay several dates on his farewell tour in order to have a “cancerous spot” removed.
Barry Manilow Faces New Health Challenge
Barry Manilow, the Grammy-winning singer known for his hits in the 1970s and 1980s such as Mandy and Copacabana, is confronting a new health issue. Over the years, Manilow has openly discussed his medical challenges, including a heart condition, and in April 2023, he told PEOPLE that performing helps him feel “vibrant.”
“I consider myself lucky to always have something going on,” he said. “Staying active in my work keeps me young—or at least keeps my mind sharp. I’ve always got something happening.”
Recently, Manilow had to pause parts of his farewell tour, The Last Concerts Series, after a “cancerous spot” was detected on his left lung. On December 22, he shared on Facebook that he would need to reschedule some performances to undergo surgery to remove it.
He added, “It’s pure luck—and a great doctor—that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
Heart Condition and Past Health Struggles
Manilow has long been transparent about his health. In 2011, he revealed he lives with atrial fibrillation (A-fib), an irregular heartbeat that starts in the upper chambers of the heart, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
He recalled to CBS News that he first noticed the condition when his heart “skipped a beat” while driving home. “At first, it didn’t seem serious, so I ignored it. But then it got crazier—I felt like there was a fish flopping in my chest,” he said.
By June 2017, speaking to Today’s Caregiver, Manilow explained that medication helps manage the condition, allowing him to continue living his life normally. “Most of the time, the medicine works and brings it back under control, but sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully, I haven’t had any episodes while performing,” he noted.
Reflections on Health and Career
In a June 2025 interview with Billboard, Manilow reflected on his decades-long career and his contemporaries from the ’70s and ’80s. “It’s like, ‘Am I the only one left?’ Billy Joel is still around, Elton John isn’t doing well, and Rod Stewart and Neil Diamond are facing challenges. Diana Ross seems to be in great shape,” he said.
Regarding his own health, Manilow shared that he still feels strong and healthy and joked that he won’t retire until he can no longer sing his 1978 hit Even Now as intended. “There are only a handful of people from my era still performing. I’m still strong, healthy, and have my voice and energy. The day I can’t hit the F natural on Even Now, that’s when I’ll stop. But I can still do it,” he said.