Music icon Barry Manilow, renowned for his intensely private lifestyle, has been seen enjoying a vape during a rare public appearance in his hometown. The 82-year-old Copacabana singer was spotted in a Palm Springs, California parking lot on December 17, electronic cigarette in hand, offering a glimpse into the personal habits of the famously reclusive star.
From Three Packs a Day to Vaping
The sighting may surprise fans aware of Manilow's significant past health struggles, but it underscores a long-standing personal choice. The legendary performer revealed over a decade ago that he traded an extreme smoking habit for vaping. Manilow previously smoked three packs of non-filtered cigarettes daily, a habit he began at the astonishingly young age of nine while growing up in Brooklyn.
In a 2012 interview with the London Evening Standard, he detailed his battle, noting a brief relapse in Las Vegas before ultimately switching to vaping. "Do they work? They do for me, my band and my crew, all of us who hated smoking but couldn't stop," Manilow stated, while acknowledging the method may not suit everyone.
Overcoming Health Woes with Relentless Energy
This personal vice exists alongside a history of serious health issues. Over the years, Barry Manilow has faced vocal cord problems, bronchial infections, and successfully treated throat cancer discovered in 2020. He has also endured bronchial pneumonia, a mouth tumour, heart problems, and hip surgery.
Remarkably, these challenges haven't dimmed his famed vitality. The singer claims to survive on just four hours of sleep nightly, attributing his energy to his New York roots. "I talk fast, I think fast. Maybe it's because New Yorkers are always moving," he told Parade magazine in 2023. He has expressed amazement at his own stamina, joking to the Daily Mirror in 2019, "I'm very old, I should not be able to do this."
The Final Curtain Call: 2026 Farewell Tour
The recent sighting comes as Manilow prepares for a significant career milestone. In January 2026, he will embark on a series of U.S. tour dates billed as his final concerts in several major markets. According to his official website, the farewell run will include performances in nine cities, such as:
- Orlando
- Tampa
- Charleston
- Greensboro
- Columbus
Fans can expect the high-energy performances he is known for, driven by what he describes as an undimmed love for music and performing. Despite his privacy, Manilow's life offstage includes his marriage to longtime partner Garry Kief in 2014. As he approaches his final tours, the image of the octogenarian star, vape pen in hand, underscores a complex portrait of a survivor managing his vices while maintaining the relentless drive that made him a global superstar.
