Barry Manilow makes triumphant return to stage amid ongoing health battle
Pop legend Barry Manilow has made a triumphant return to the stage following a six-week hiatus amid his recovery from lung cancer and a string of other health issues.
Manilow, 83, made his return to the International Theatre at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday night (Friday AEST), with the crowd welcoming him back through thunderous applause.
Barry Manilow has made a triumphant return to the stage following a six-week hiatus. Instagram/@jpasc24
“I’m having a good time with you guys!” the singer reportedly told the audience.
“This is the first time back in a long time. I have some medical problems, but I’m back!”
The Copacabana singer has been doing a residency at the casino since the start of the year, but was forced to take a break after his show on August 22, saying he had “pushed himself” too hard.
During his first show back, the audience played into an old concert tradition, throwing pairs of underwear onto the stage for Manilow.
“You want me to send this to the laundry or something?” Manilow joked after picking up underwear.
“Is there another one?” the singer asked as he looked around the stage before he picked up another bright pink pair of underwear.
“I’ll keep this,” he laughed. “God, I feel like I’m a teenage idol again.”
The singer is scheduled to perform again on Friday night (Saturday AEST).
Fans threw underwear onto the stage to welcome Manilow back Instagram/@ jpasc24
Manilow reschedule a number of shows earlier this year after sharing he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2025.
Doctors found a cancerous spot on his lungs during an MRI, the singer shared in a statement posted to Instagram at the time.
The singer-songwriter revealed he underwent the scan because he suffered from repeated bronchitis infections in a span of six weeks.
He added that doctors caught it early, and said he won’t need to go through chemotherapy or radiation once it’s removed.
Following his recovery, he returned to the stage, only to struggle with a number of other health problems.
In August, the singer told fans he would be taking a “quick break” from touring after “pushing it too hard” at previous shows.
Barry Manilow has announced a break from touring, just days after he was forced to cancel two shows due to “technical and vocal problems.” Getty
Manilow announced a break from touring back in August. Instagram/@BarryManilow
“Hi everybody, Barry here. I want you to be the first to know that we’re going to take a quick break,” the singer wrote in an Instagram post.
“We just finished a fantastic summer tour. 29 shows in 68 days. The shows were fantastic. The audiences were fantastic, and I sounded fantastic.
“But it seems that we were pushing a little too hard. Now we all need to sit down and shut up. So, we’re going to take a break until we return to the Westgate Las Vegas on October 8th when I’ll be singing like a bird.”
He concluded by saying: “I hope to see you then.”
