Manilow's Comeback Album
Barry Manilow Unveils First Original Album in 15 Years Amidst Cancer Recovery Journey
Barry Manilow, 82, is releasing his first album of nearly all-original material in 15 years — but he isn't sure he can still sing. The pop icon, who sold over 85 million records and racked up 51 Top 40 Adult Contemporary hits, told Good Morning America on June 1 that his voice has not recovered after lung cancer surgery. "I don't know whether it's coming back," he said. "It didn't sound like me at all."
Manilow was diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer in December 2025 after doctors found a spot on his lung. Surgeons removed a lobe of his left lung, then he spent seven days in the ICU fighting pneumonia. His album "What a Time" drops June 5. A return to the stage is scheduled for June 25 in Reading, Pennsylvania — if his voice allows it.
Lung Cancer, ICU Stay, and a Voice at Risk
Manilow's health crisis began with 11 weeks of bronchitis. An MRI revealed a cancerous spot, and on December 22, 2025, he announced the diagnosis on Instagram, according to NBC News. Surgeons performed a lobectomy — removing part of his left lung — and said no chemotherapy or radiation was needed. He posted a "Better Today!" selfie from the hospital on January 3.
Recovery turned dangerous fast. Manilow developed post-operative pneumonia and spent a week in the ICU, according to ABC News. The deeper threat: surgeons had to pass through his vocal cords to reach the lung. That passage damaged the instrument he has relied on for 50 years. He told The Guardian, "I'm not ready to croak... I'm going to do it whether I can sing or not."
A New Album Built Around Original Songs, Not Covers
"What a Time" is Manilow's 33rd studio album and contains 13 tracks. It marks a sharp turn. For nearly 15 years, he released covers of other artists' songs. This time, he wrote most of the material himself. The lead single, "Sun Shine," was co-written with Gary Barlow. Producer Michael Lloyd worked to keep the sound firmly in classic Manilow territory, according to NPR.
Getting there wasn't easy. Manilow told NPR he tried writing in the style of Billie Eilish first — and failed. "I couldn't find the hook," he said. He eventually returned to the lush orchestration that made him famous. The shift back to originals is being watched closely by fans and critics who want to know if he still has the songwriting sharpness that produced hits like "Mandy" and "Copacabana."
A Las Vegas Record That Outlasts Elvis Presley
Before his diagnosis, Manilow was the undisputed king of Las Vegas residencies. He surpassed Elvis Presley's record of 636 shows at the International Theater in September 2023, setting a new mark of 637 and counting. In 2024, he signed the first-ever Lifetime Residency Contract with Westgate Las Vegas, playing 54 dates per year in the 1,582-seat venue, according to Westgate Las Vegas.
His absence since December has hit the Westgate hard. The hotel relies on his consistent bookings to drive tourism revenue. Bette Midler, who employed Manilow as her pianist in the early 1970s, told the Los Angeles Times that performing is not a job for him. "It's a vocation, a calling," she said. His 15-night sold-out run at L.A.'s Greek Theatre in 1978 — drawing 72,000 fans — still stands as a venue record.
Coming Out, Cosmetic Surgery, and Late-Career Honesty
Manilow came out as gay in 2017 after decades of keeping his marriage to manager Garry Kief private. He told The Guardian that coming out in the 1970s "would have killed a career." His reaction to the news landing softly was mixed. He told The New York Post he felt "insulted" that fans weren't more surprised — and views his sexuality as far less interesting than his music.
He has also admitted to a facelift, telling interviewers, "I'm as vain as anybody else." The candor fits a broader pattern of late-stage transparency. Manilow credits Kief with "saving my life" during his chaotic rise to fame in the 1970s. The two have been together for decades. As he faces the possibility of never fully regaining his voice, Manilow remains blunt: the June 25 show is happening, one way or another.
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