BARRY MANILOW’S JOURNEY: FROM CHILDHOOD SMOKING TO LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS

A Habit Formed in Brooklyn Streets

Barry Manilow, the beloved voice behind hits like “Copacabana,” recently shared news that stunned his fans worldwide: a lung cancer diagnosis at age 81. This revelation comes after a lifetime relationship with cigarettes that began in the most unlikely of circumstances. “I smoked for 30 years. I started when I was 9 years old,” Manilow once revealed in a 2012 interview with The Standard. Growing up in the streets of Brooklyn, young Barry found himself drawn to cigarettes at an age when most children are still playing with toys. What started as childhood experimentation evolved into a serious addiction, eventually leading to a three-pack-a-day habit of unfiltered cigarettes. “I was a great smoker,” he once admitted with the kind of self-deprecating humor that has endeared him to fans for decades. The image of a young Brooklyn boy secretly smoking contrasts sharply with the polished entertainer who would later captivate audiences worldwide, illustrating how early life choices can cast long shadows across a lifetime.

The Cycle of Quitting and Relapse

Like many smokers, Manilow’s relationship with cigarettes wasn’t straightforward but rather a cycle of quitting and relapsing that spanned decades. After smoking heavily through his rise to fame, he successfully quit for nearly two decades, seemingly breaking free from nicotine’s grip. However, as he candidly shared, a single moment of weakness in Las Vegas changed everything. “The band and I went down to a little club and somebody offered me a cigarette. And I was back. Within a week I was back,” Manilow explained, highlighting the powerful hold nicotine can have even after years of abstinence. Though he didn’t return to his previous three-pack habit, the relapse illustrates the lifelong struggle many former smokers face. Eventually, like millions of others seeking alternatives to traditional cigarettes, Manilow turned to vaping. “Do they work? They do for me, my band and my crew, all of us who hated smoking but couldn’t stop,” he said of electronic cigarettes. Just days before announcing his cancer diagnosis in December 2025, he was photographed with his vape pen during a rare public appearance in Palm Springs, showing his continued reliance on nicotine even as health concerns mounted.

The Cancer Diagnosis and Its Discovery

Manilow’s cancer journey began unexpectedly after a persistent health problem led to routine testing. “I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” he explained in his heartfelt Instagram announcement. Though he had recovered enough to resume performances at Las Vegas’ Westgate, his physician wisely ordered an MRI as a precautionary measure. This decision may have saved the performer’s life, as the scan revealed a cancerous spot on his left lung that might otherwise have remained undetected until symptoms worsened. The timing of this discovery highlights the importance of thorough medical follow-up, especially for those with smoking histories. “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early,” Manilow acknowledged, expressing gratitude for the early detection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies cigarette smoking as the number one risk factor for lung cancer, creating a stark connection between his decades-long smoking habit and the current health crisis he faces. Yet in characteristic fashion, Manilow has approached his diagnosis with optimism and his trademark humor.

Treatment Plans and Professional Adjustments

Despite the seriousness of a cancer diagnosis at his age, Manilow has expressed remarkable optimism about his prognosis and treatment plan. Having concluded his Christmas concert series “A Gift of Love,” he scheduled surgery to remove the cancerous spot. “The doctors do not believe it has spread, and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis,” he shared, adding with his characteristic lightheartedness, “So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.” This relatively straightforward approach speaks to the potential benefits of early detection in cancer treatment. Nevertheless, the diagnosis has necessitated adjustments to his professional commitments. Manilow announced he would need approximately a month to recover following surgery, requiring the postponement of his January 2026 tour dates. The rescheduling demonstrates how even the most dedicated performers must prioritize health, particularly when facing serious conditions like cancer. Fans have responded with an outpouring of support and understanding, reinforcing the strong connection Manilow has built with his audience over his decades-long career.

A History of Health Challenges

Manilow’s lung cancer diagnosis isn’t the first health battle the legendary performer has faced. Prior to this recent development, he confronted a series of medical challenges including bronchial pneumonia, a mouth tumor, heart problems, and hip surgery. Perhaps most relevant to his current situation was a 2020 throat cancer diagnosis that was fortunately caught and treated early. These accumulated health issues led Manilow to express a sense of living on borrowed time during a 2019 interview with the Daily Mirror, where he confessed, “I’m fine, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m very old, I should not be able to do this.” He specifically referenced the physical demands of his performances, noting the 28 stairs he climbs during shows and suggesting that many might expect someone his age to be “in a wheelchair or something.” Despite these challenges, Manilow has continued performing with the energy and enthusiasm that made him a star, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of health setbacks that might have ended the careers of less determined artists.

Legacy of Warning and Hope

Manilow’s openness about his smoking history and its potential connection to his cancer diagnosis serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the long-term consequences of tobacco use. His journey from a nine-year-old Brooklyn boy lighting his first cigarette to an octogenarian battling lung cancer spans more than seven decades, illustrating how youthful choices can manifest in later-life health complications. While vaping is generally considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes, health experts at institutions like the Cleveland Clinic warn that it can still cause inflammation and lung damage, suggesting that Manilow’s switch to vaping may have reduced but not eliminated his respiratory risks. Yet amidst these sobering realities, Manilow’s story also offers hope through his emphasis on early detection and his optimistic outlook regarding treatment. By sharing his experience so publicly, the performer has potentially encouraged fans—particularly those with smoking histories—to seek appropriate medical screening and follow-up care. As Manilow prepares for surgery and recovery, his transparency about both his health struggles and his decades-long battle with nicotine addiction may ultimately prove to be one of his most meaningful contributions to his audience, extending his legacy beyond music to include a message of health awareness and resilience in the face of life’s most difficult challenges.