Barry Manilow Uncertain About Voice Post Lung Cancer Surgery

Singer Barry Manilow has expressed uncertainty about the future of his singing voice following surgery to treat lung cancer last year. The 82-year-old music icon, known for hits like "Copacabana" and "Mandy," revealed in a recent television interview that his voice has not yet returned to its familiar state as he prepares to resume touring.

Manilow said that during a sound check about a month ago, he did not sound like himself at all, a moment he described as deeply upsetting. He recounted looking at his band members and seeing them looking at the floor, which he took as a sign that something was wrong. The singer, whose career spans over five decades, said he had always taken his voice for granted but does not anymore, as it no longer seems to be there the way it always was.

The health challenges began in December 2025 when a spot was discovered on his left lung during an MRI following a bout of bronchitis. The diagnosis was a Stage 1 cancerous tumor. Manilow underwent a successful lobectomy, a surgery where doctors removed a portion of his lung. He noted that surgeons had to pass through his vocal cords to reach the lung but were gentle. He did not require chemotherapy or...