Barry Manilow, 83, has announced a break from touring after canceling a number of recent dates. The singer, who underwent surgery for lung cancer late last year, has been experiencing vocal and technical problems, forcing him to scrap two shows in his Las Vegas residency this month.
Manilow took to social media on Tuesday to explain that a recent UK arena tour, which involved performing 29 shows in 68 days, had taken a significant toll. "We were pushing a little too hard," he stated, announcing a temporary pause from his "The Hits Come Home!" Vegas residency. He expressed hope to return to the stage at the Westgate Las Vegas on October 8, with dates scheduled through December.
Last week, a scheduled Las Vegas concert was canceled just hours before showtime, and an August performance in Lexington, Kentucky, was also pulled at the last moment. The postponed Las Vegas shows are expected to be rescheduled next week.
Manilow was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in November, following a doctor's visit for hip pain. The diagnosis came after he had twice battled bronchitis and underwent an MRI scan. He revealed in March that the cancer was detected early, stating, "If he hadn't done that, man ... he saved my life, because there's no symptoms for what I had." He added that the cancer had not spread, a realization that made him contemplate the fragility of life.
"They took out a part of me, and now I've got to figure out, 'What do I do?'" Manilow said, reflecting on the experience. He credited his husband and manager, Garry Kief, for support during the health crisis, which prompted him to reassess his life and career. He told People magazine that the experience led him to consider whether he had fulfilled his desire to make people happy and be a good friend, concluding that the answers were overwhelmingly yes.
In June, Manilow shared an update on his recovery with NPR, noting that while doctors assured him his vocal cords were not harmed during the surgery, he remained uncertain about their full recovery. He was told it could take a year to fully recover from such an operation.