Legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow has been forced to postpone the opening leg of his farewell tour after a "very depressing" visit with his surgeon. What this really means is that Manilow's long-awaited retirement from the road has been delayed yet again due to the lingering effects of his recent cancer treatment.
Manilow's Ongoing Health Struggles
Manilow, 82, announced in December that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and would need to undergo surgery to remove a "cancerous spot" on his lung. The good news at the time was that the disease was caught early, and Manilow said he wouldn't require chemotherapy or radiation.
Unfortunately, Manilow's recovery has not gone as smoothly as hoped. In a social media post this week, the "Copacabana" singer revealed that his doctor has ordered him to postpone the first batch of shows on his upcoming arena tour, which were slated to kick off on February 27th.
Pushing Back the Farewell
According to reports, Manilow's surgeon told him bluntly: "Barry, you won't be ready to do a 90 minute show. Your lungs aren't ready yet." The doctor advised Manilow not to attempt the first leg of the tour, warning that he "won't make it through."
The bigger picture here is that this latest setback means Manilow's long-planned farewell tour will be further delayed. The singer had already been forced to reschedule January concert dates to undergo the initial cancer surgery, and now the first batch of arena shows in late February and March have also been postponed.
Manilow said he's "SO, SO sorry" about the need to reschedule more performances, but admitted that "deep down, I wanted to go back—but my body knew what my heart didn't want to admit: I wasn't ready." He's now hoping to return to the stage in late March for a Las Vegas residency, followed by the second leg of the arena tour starting in April.
The iconic singer-songwriter has been performing for over 50 years, with a string of #1 hits like "Mandy," "Can't Smile Without You," and "I Write the Songs." His fans will have to wait a little longer to see him off, but Manilow is determined to return stronger than ever. As he put it, "when I do come back, I will COME BACK!!!"