Barry Manilow Underwent a Lobectomy for Lung Cancer. Here’s What to Know About the Surgery

The legendary singer underwent a lobectomy in December 2025 to treat stage 1 lung cancer

Barry Manilow performs onstage during the "Manilow: The Last Seattle Concert" at Climate Pledge Arena on July 12, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

In the latest issue of PEOPLE, Barry Manilow opens up about his recent lung cancer diagnosis and undergoing a lobectomy in December 2025.

The 82-year-old legendary singer recalls spending seven days in the ICU before being discharged, calling the experience a “nightmare” despite it leaving him cancer-free.

“You just don’t even think about [how fragile life is]. And suddenly, you have lung cancer,” he tells PEOPLE. “But I’m still here. I’m not all here; there’s part of me that isn’t here — they took out a part of me, and now I’ve got to figure out, ‘What do I do?’ ”

Manilow adds, “This really rocked me, but I’m getting stronger, and we’ll see if I can make it back.”

As the Grammy winner continues to recover from treatment, here’s what to know about his intense procedure.

A lobectomy is a surgery to remove a section, or lobe, of the lung — a common treatment for lung cancer. There are five lobes in the lungs: three in the right lung and two in the left. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the affected lobe of the lung and any nearby lymph nodes to prevent the spread of cancer.

The surgery can be performed two ways, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. In most cases, one large incision is made on the front of the chest wrapping around the back under the shoulder blade. The surgeon accesses the chest cavity through the exposed ribs to remove the affected lobe.

In other cases, a less invasive procedure is performed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Three or four small incisions are made and the surgeon accesses the chest cavity using small tools to remove the affected lobe. One of those tools is a thoracoscope, a tube with a light and a tiny camera that sends images to a computer screen.

A lobectomy offers the best chance of a cure for those with early-stage lung cancer. Recovery time can vary from several weeks to months

Barry Manilow Details Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Says It ‘Made Me Take Stock of My Life’ at 82 (Exclusive)

“This really rocked me,” the music icon — who will release his 33rd studio album, ‘What a Time,’ on June 5 — says of going through cancer

NEED TO KNOW

Barry Manilow was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer in November
In a new PEOPLE cover story, he opens up about his diagnosis and the treatment that left him cancer free
“I thought I might be dying,” Manilow says of learning that he had cancer

He made it through the rain — now Barry Manilow is opening up about his “nightmare” lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

In December, the music icon, 82, revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was undergoing treatment. Now in an exclusive PEOPLE cover story, Manilow — who just announced that his 33rd studio album, What a Time, will drop June 5 — is detailing the experience for the first time.

“You just don’t even think about [how fragile life is]. And suddenly, you have lung cancer. But I’m still here. I’m not all here; there’s part of me that isn’t here — they took out a part of me, and now I’ve got to figure out, ‘What do I do?’” Manilow says.

Barry Manilow for PEOPLE — Barry Manilow at home in Palm Springs on March 4, 2026.John Russo

In November, Manilow’s hips were bothering him, so he went to the doctor, who ordered an MRI for his pelvis, then for his lungs when he learned the singer had recently weathered two bouts of bronchitis.

“If he hadn’t done that, man … He saved my life, because there’s no symptoms for what I had. I could go on, nothing hurt — but they found the dot in my lung,” Manilow says. “They called me and said, ‘Could be cancer.’ That’s a bad word. ‘Not me. F— you. I can’t have cancer.’”

More tests confirmed his doctors’ suspicion: He had stage 1 lung cancer.

“They don’t even know how long I had this thing sitting on me. It could have been years,” he says. “If it had gone any further, then I would be up s—’s creek. It just so happened that it hadn’t spread, and boy oh boy, I thought I might be dying.”

Four week later, Manilow checked into the hospital to undergo a lobectomy to remove the diseased part of the lung. Following the successful surgery, he spent seven days in the ICU before being discharged. “I don’t remember it, thank goodness, because it was a nightmare,” Manilow says of his hospital stay. “I’m one of the lucky ones; I don’t have to have chemo, radiation and all that stuff.”

Barry Manilow PEOPLE cover — Barry Manilow on the cover of the April 6, 2026 issue of PEOPLE.John Russo

Now cancer free, the Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner has plenty to celebrate. In March, his new song “Once Before I Go” became a top 10 single, making him the only artist in history to notch an adult contemporary hit in six consecutive decades. And in June, he’ll release, What a Time.

Through the ordeal, Manilow has received support from his husband and manager, Garry Kief, as well as friends, family and his beloved Fanilows. Despite his health challenges and uncertain future, Manilow is at peace.

“It has really, really made me take stock of my life. 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,” he says of going through cancer. “And the answers are yes. And as a matter of fact, there are more yeses than I ever thought.”

barry manilow new album cover — Barry Manilow’s ‘What a Time’ album cover art (out June 5).

Manilow is still on a long road to recovery, though. The future of his performing career hangs in the balance as the “Copacabana (At the Copa)” singer continues to recover from his cancer treatment, which resulted in the removal of one of his left lung’s two lobes, which deliver oxygen to the bloodstream. At press time, he was scheduled to resume his ongoing farewell arena tour after postponing dates amid his health crisis.

“This really rocked me,” he says, “but I’m getting stronger.”

Barry Manilow Says Fate of Postponed Tour Is Uncertain After Lung Cancer: ‘I Have to Learn How to Breathe Again’ (Exclusive)

“We’ll see if I can make it back,” the “Once Before I Go” singer says of his farewell tour, which was originally scheduled to launch in January

NEED TO KNOW

Barry Manilow was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer last November
He tells PEOPLE exclusively that he’s doing vocal exercises and breathing lessons to “learn how to breathe again”
“I want to know that if I can’t do it, I did everything I could do to go back on the road and do these 90-minute concerts,” Manilow says of working to get back on stage

Barry Manilow is on a long road to recovery.

The music icon, 82, was supposed to resume his ongoing farewell arena tour in January but postponed shows due to his November lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. Now cancer free, he’s working hard to regain his strength and reclaim his voice. But the fate of his performing career is still up in the air.

Four weeks after receiving his stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis, Manilow — who will release his next album, What a Time, on June 5 — checked into the hospital to undergo a lobectomy, which resulted in the removal of one of his left lung’s two lobes, which deliver oxygen to the bloodstream.

“I’m still waiting for the strength that I lost to come back,” says the star, who dipped down to 128 lbs. because of his procedure. He’s eating to gain weight back, works out every morning and is on the treadmill multiple times a day.

“I’m still going through it, but I’m pulling myself back together,” Manilow says. “I’m not even sure I can go to the next level yet. My body doesn’t want to take me there. It’s not even doctor’s orders, it’s my body’s orders — it won’t let me do it.”

The ordeal has also taken a toll on Manilow’s low-tenor voice — and has jeopardized his eventual return to the stage. After his surgery, Manilow rescheduled multiple dates of his ongoing farewell arena tour and Las Vegas residency. At press time, he was slated to resume his tour on April 12, but at the time of this interview, wasn’t sure if that curtain would rise.

“I have to be able to do the kind of thing I’ve always done without this one lobe,” says Manilow, who is one of the bestselling artists of all time, having sold more than 85 million records. “The shows that I do are full of energy, and unless you’re in top-notch shape, you can’t make it through 90 minutes.”

When he first attempted to rehearse his set list after the lobectomy, “I couldn’t even get through the first song,” Manilow says, but six weeks before the planned tour launch, “I was able to get through most of the whole show.”

To recuperate, he’s doing vocal exercises and breathing lessons.

“I have to learn how to breathe again. Isn’t that crazy? It’s beyond frustrating. It’s just sad that I cannot do what I love doing, but maybe [by April 12] it’ll all be over and I’ll be able to go back to my old life,” Manilow says. “I have to get on that treadmill because I don’t want to throw it away. I want to know that if I can’t do it, I did everything I could do to go back on the road and do these 90-minute concerts. If I can’t do it, I want to know that it’s not because I didn’t try.”

Amid his cancer journey, Manilow has received support from his husband and manager, Garry Kief, and of course his beloved Fanilows.

“I had no idea that there were that many people out there that even knew I was alive,” he says.

After announcing his diagnosis online on Dec. 22, those fans “sent the most beautiful things to me, from all over the world, people writing to me and wishing me well. Don’t make me start to cry,” says the musician. “It should be a horrible experience, and it was, but those notes and those people made it doable.”

As he continues to focus on his recovery, “We’ll see if I can make it back,” Manilow says.

While he works to get back onstage, Manilow also knows the show must go on. He’s now preparing for the release of his 33rd studio album, What a Time. The record features his latest hit single, “Once Before I Go,” a timeless, sweeping ballad that fits seamlessly alongside his canon of pop classics (from “Mandy” and “Looks Like We Made It” to “Can’t Smile Without You”) that launched the self-effacing Brooklynite to superstardom in 1974.

“Once before I go / I want you to know that I have loved you all along … So kiss me for the last time and hold me close once more,” Manilow sings on the track, which he originally heard years ago but only recorded it after his friend and former music label executive, Clive Davis, recently suggested he do so.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite like that. It moved me,” Manilow of the song, which in March became a top 10 single, making him the only artist in history to notch an adult contemporary hit in six consecutive decades. “I think I was too young to be able to sing a song like that [until now].”

Post Views: 4

Step into a world dedicated entirely to man's best friend - dogs. Our website is a treasure trove of heartwarming news, touching stories, and inspiring narratives centered around these incredible creatures.
We invite you to join us in spreading the joy. Share our posts, stories, and articles with your friends, extending the warmth and inspiration to every corner.With a simple click, you can be part of this movement.