Barry Manilow sparked major health concerns after abruptly halting his Las Vegas show and cancelling scheduled performances, just days after returning to the stage. On Friday, the 83-year-old was just two songs into his residency at the Westgate International Theatre when he unexpectedly walked off.
It has now been revealed that the Mandy singer has been "hit with bronchitis" after reportedly telling concertgoers to "talk among yourselves" before prematurely ending the show. According to Vital Vegas, Manilow's band carried on playing before a loudspeaker announcement informed the audience that the show was over.
Refunds issued after show cancelled
Ticketholders confirmed they later received refund emails from Ticketmaster before the concert was called off entirely. Addressing the singer's health diagnosis, Manilow's representative told Variety: "After a triumphant welcome-back concert on Thursday, Barry got hit with bronchitis and had to cancel his Friday and Saturday shows."
This left many worried as Manilow shared in December last year that he had been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer. Fans took to social media advising the crooner to "rest" and "take all the time you need".
Fans urge singer to prioritise health
One said: "Take good care, Barry. You came back really fast. Take your time. Just be well." A second concerned fan added: "I'm worried about your health. Please make your health a top priority. You're always in my heart, Barry."
"Hope you are okay, Barry. Sending positive healing thoughts in case they are needed. Take all the time you need," shared another.
Manilow had received the stage one cancer diagnosis while he was recovering from another bout of bronchitis, and the tumour was found via an MRI ordered after he suffered from prolonged bouts of the condition. He subsequently underwent surgery to remove the tumour.
Residency delays and recovery
Despite this, the singer's health concerns have repeatedly delayed his Las Vegas residency, which was due to begin in February. At the end of August, he announced another break after performing in the UK during the summer, admitting "we were pushing a little too hard".
Although some shows are now cancelled, his team has not said whether the upcoming dates of his residency, which was supposed to continue on October 15, will be affected.
The 70s chart-topper previously opened up about the toll the health issues had taken, labelling it a "rough ride" but insisted he was now on the mend and was "feeling great". During a BBC Breakfast interview in June, he said: "I’m feeling great, great. Everything is better. It was a rough ride."
While recovering from surgery, he had a seven-day ICU stay during which he unknowingly had pneumonia. Manilow reflected: "It was seven days in ICU. It wasn’t so much the surgery that got me, it was the pneumonia that got me. I could have gone home after the surgery. They threw that tumour in the garbage, and I could have gone home. It was the pneumonia that kept me in the hospital for a long time."
