Singer Barry Manilow cancelled his Friday and Saturday night concerts in Las Vegas just hours before he was due on stage.
The 83-year-old entertainer was set to perform at the Westgate International Theater on Friday and Saturday night but announced on Friday afternoon that the performances were not going ahead.
In a statement posted to his Instagram account, Manilow apologised to fans and explained that technical and vocal issues forced the sudden cancellation.
"We’re very sorry but we have to cancel tonight’s and tomorrow’s performances," the statement read. "Due to technical and vocal problems, we’re unable to put on our show. Refunds will automatically be processed via your point of purchase."
Recent Concert Cancellations
The Las Vegas cancellations come after Manilow pulled out of another scheduled appearance earlier this month, cancelling his Kentucky concert for the second time.
A statement posted on the entertainer's X page at the time stated: "Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight's show in Lexington has been rescheduled."
The Grammy-winning singer had previously cancelled a March 9 show at the Rupp Arena in Lexington while recovering from surgery.
Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Surgery
Manilow underwent surgery for stage 1 lung cancer late last year following a medical checkup in November that was initially intended to address pain in his hip.
The diagnosis followed two bouts of bronchitis, after which doctors performed an MRI scan on his lungs and pelvis.
Speaking to People magazine in March, Manilow credited the hip pain evaluation with saving his life because the cancer produced no symptoms.
"If he hadn't done that, man.. he saved my life, because there's no symptoms for what I had," Manilow told People. "I could go on, nothing hurt, but they found the dot in my lung."
Recalling the moment he received the news, he added: "They called me and said, 'Could be cancer.' That's a bad word. Not me. F*** you. I can't have cancer."
Manilow noted that medical professionals were unsure how long the growth had been present, saying it could have been years. "If it had gone any further, then I would be up s***'s creek," he said. "It just so happened that it hadn't spread, and boy oh boy, I thought I might be dying."
Reflecting on Health and Career
The health scare prompted the singer to reflect deeply on his life and mortality, noting that "you just don't even think about" how fragile life can be until facing such moments.
"And suddenly, you have lung cancer," Manilow said. "But I'm still here. I'm not all here; there's part of me that isn't here: they took out a part of me, and now I've got to figure out, 'What do I do?'"
The singer praised his husband and manager, Garry Kief, for helping him stay positive throughout his recovery and treatment.
He added that the experience caused him to take stock of his personal life and career achievements. "This made me stop and think about: Have I done what I wanted to do, and have I made people happy?" Manilow told the publication. "Have I been a good friend? All of those cornball things that I've read for all of my life, I started to think about that, too. It really did stop me in my tracks."
Reflecting on those questions, he added: "And the answers are yes. And as a matter of fact, there are more yeses than I ever thought."
Fan Reactions and Vocal Cord Recovery
Following Friday's cancellation, fans flooded social media with messages of concern and encouragement for the veteran performer.
One fan commented on Instagram: "Sending Barry best wishes and tons of positive vibes I am half his age and would not be able to keep up his schedule. Take care of yourself and rest." Another wrote: "Sending Barry nothing but love and hope he is feeling better soon!"
Manilow, whose music career spans over six decades, is globally renowned for pop hits including "Mandy" and "Copacabana", and maintains a busy touring schedule.
In June, while promoting his latest album What A Time, Manilow spoke with NPR about the ongoing recovery process following his lung surgery.
"They say it takes a year before you come back from something like that," the veteran entertainer said. "They promised me that they were very gentle and they didn't hurt my vocal cords. But I'm not so sure."
