Barry Manilow has expressed fears that he may never regain his singing voice following surgery for lung cancer. The 82-year-old singer underwent a lobectomy in December after being diagnosed with stage one lung cancer, during which a large portion of his cancerous left lung was removed.
In an interview on Good Morning America, Manilow spoke in a raspy voice, saying: 'My voice – I don't know whether it's coming back.' He described a recent sound check where he 'didn't sound like me at all,' leading him to consider that his singing career might be over. 'I just couldn't believe that it's over,' he said. 'That is really upsetting. Because I don't want it to stop.'
Manilow, who smoked from age nine until 39 and later vaped, was diagnosed after an MRI scan following a bout of bronchitis. The tumour was successfully removed, and he did not require chemotherapy or radiation. However, he developed pneumonia after the operation, requiring a stint in intensive care. 'There were a couple of moments there that I thought this may be goodbye,' he recalled, praising the hospital staff as 'angels, saints.'
Despite his vocal struggles, Manilow remains hopeful about returning to the stage. He is due to begin UK dates of his farewell tour in Glasgow on June 9, followed by US dates. '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. Reflecting on his legacy, he added: '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.'
