Barry Manilow, 82, shares fresh health update after being forced to cancel run of shows
BARRY Manilow has given fans a new health update after surgery to remove part of his lung following a cancer diagnosis.
The legendary crooner, 82, shared a hospital selfie on Instagram last week and is now already looking ahead to his comeback shows.
His team posted on the social media site, “SURPRISE!!! Barry is feeling great…so great that he’s decided to add six additional concerts to his existing March schedule.”
Gigs in Charlotte, Norfolk, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Lexington have all been arranged over the dates of March 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th.
The post concluded, “Years from now, when you look back on these dates, you’ll want to know you were there to say goodbye.”
It was welcomed by his supporters, with one commenting, “Can’t wait!! Glad you are feeling good!”
READ MORE ON BARRY MANILOW
Another said, “Great news! I hope it’s not too fast after your surgery. Please don’t tire yourself out!!!!”
A third wrote, “Barry we love you so much.”
Smiling from his hospital bed, Barry previously revealed he was “better today” as he recuperated from surgery.
The post from earlier this month was his first since sharing his diagnosis on December 22.
At the time, Barry wrote, “As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks.
“Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early.
“That’s the good news.”
He went on, “The bad news is that now that the Christmas Gift Of Love concerts are over I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed.
“The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis.
“So that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
He added that scheduled January shows in cities such as Orlando, Tampa, Charleston, Greensboro and Columbus needed to be rescheduled.
“I’m very sorry that you have to change your plans,” he told fans.
Those shows are now taking place in March, too. But before then, his big stage return will be on February 27 at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Barry previously said, “Something tells me February is going to be one big party…”
After his diagnosis was shared with the world, The U.S. Sun revealed that Barry was due to have surgery the following day and felt “terrified” about it.
“Barry’s surgery will be at a hospital in Palm Springs, near his home, and he is expected to remain in the hospital for three days while he recovers,” an insider told us.
“Barry is terrified,” they added, of the icon’s latest health scare.
Music legend Barry’s career spans six decades with global hits including Could it be Magic, Copacabana and Mandy.
His tracks have been covered countless times by artists like Take That and Westlife, and he has been championed by industry icons like the late Frank Sinatra.
