Barry Manilow 82, makes his first public appearance since lung cancer surgery

Months after Barry Manilow underwent lung cancer surgery, the singer was seen looking upbeat in New York City as he attended meetings. The “Copacabana” singer was pictured in a black leather jacket, black jeans, and sneakers as he smiled at the cameras, four months after the lobectomy procedure in December 2025. He was joined by a friend as they exited a car, and were greeted by a doorman.

Barry, 82, revealed in December that he had been diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer, after battling six weeks of bronchitis.

“As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” Barry shared in late 2025. “Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI to make sure that everything was OK.”

However, the MRI discovered a cancerous spot on his left lung that needed to be removed. It was found early, which Barry called “good news,” sharing that “the doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis.”

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The legendary singer then spent seven days in the hospital after the surgery and had to reschedule a string of arena concerts. Several dates have now been rescheduled for June and July, although in February, Barry told fans that he was unsure when he might return to the stage after a “depressing” visit to the doctor.

The cancer and subsequent surgery saw his weight fall to under 130lbs, and it has also taken a toll on his voice. He revealed that although he was “using the treadmill three times a day,” his doctor had advised that his “body isn’t ready” to perform a 90-minute set.

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“He shook his head. He looked at me, and then he looked at the floor,” said Barry. “He said, ‘Barry, you won’t be ready to do a 90-minute show. Your lungs aren’t ready yet. You’re in great shape considering what you’ve been through, but your body isn’t ready. You shouldn’t do the first Arena shows. You won’t make it through.'”

Common side-effects of a lobectomy include pain, fatigue, and breathlessness, while long-term effects may include reduced lung capacity and chronic pain.

“I’m still waiting for the strength that I lost to come back,” Barry told People in March.

“It has really, really made me take stock of my life,” he added. “This made me stop and think about: Have I done what I wanted to do, and have I made people happy? Have I been a good friend? 

“All of those cornball things that I’ve read for all of my life, I started to think about that, too. It really did stop me in my tracks. And the answers are yes. And as a matter of fact, there are more yeses than I ever thought.”