Barry Manilow has expressed fears that he may permanently lose his voice following treatment for lung cancer. The 82-year-old singer underwent a lobectomy in December, during which a large portion of his cancerous left lung was removed. Manilow, who smoked from age nine until 39 and later vaped, spoke in a raspy voice during an appearance on Good Morning America, saying: 'My voice – I don't know whether it's coming back.'
Manilow revealed that he had begun to lose hope of ever singing again after a recent sound check left him deflated. 'I did my first sound check about a month ago, and I didn't sound like me at all,' he said. The singer admitted he had taken his voice for granted, adding: 'Now I do, because it doesn't seem to be there the way it always was.' He described the waiting and lack of patience as 'agony'.
The cancer was discovered after Manilow visited his doctor for bronchitis in November. An MRI scan revealed a spot on his lung, which was diagnosed as stage one lung cancer. The surgery was successful, and he did not require chemotherapy or radiation. However, he developed pneumonia after the operation, leading to a stint in intensive care. 'There were a couple of moments there that I thought this may be goodbye,' he said, praising the hospital staff as 'angels, saints'.
Despite his fears, Manilow remains optimistic about returning to the stage. He is due to kick off UK dates of his farewell tour in Glasgow on June 9, followed by US shows. 'I can't wait to get back. I'm in great shape, I'm ready to go. I just hope my voice is there,' he said. He acknowledged that he might become emotional on stage, adding: 'I really don't want to cry on stage, but I don't know whether I'll be able to hold that back this time.'
Reflecting on his legacy ahead of his 83rd birthday on June 17, Manilow said: 'Have I done everything I wanted to do? Have I been good to people? Have I made people feel good? That's all I ever wanted to do with my music.' He expressed gratitude for the countless letters from fans who were praying for him after his diagnosis.
