Amid his cancer diagnosis, Barry Manilow reveals why he won’t undergo chemotherapy and radiation

January 8, 2026 by Nadia

“I’m still healthy. I’m strong and I’ve still got my voice and my energy. The night I can’t hit the F natural on Even Now, that’s the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it.”

Lung cancer, a disease for which cigarette smoking is the leading risk factor, according to the CDC. Barry Manilow has been candid about his decades-long relationship with smoking.

“I smoked for 30 years. I started when I was 9 years old,” the singer told The Standard in 2012, revealing that he later quit before starting the habit again.

Manilow eventually shifted to vaping.

Fans rally around the star

Since sharing the news, fans have flooded his social media with messages of love and support.

One wrote, “You even make that hospital gown look fine! 😉🥰 Be well! ❤️” Another encouraged, “Keep healing, Barry… You can do it. God is good all the time.”

Through decades of hits, sold-out shows, and life’s ups and downs, Barry Manilow has always been a performer who connects deeply with his fans. Now, as he faces this personal health challenge, the world is cheering him on every step of the way. We’re Praying for your recovery, Barry!