Manilow Scraps Kentucky Concert 45 Minutes Before Showtime as Cancer Recovery Continues

Barry Manilow abruptly canceled his Tuesday performance in Lexington, Kentucky, pulling the plug just three-quarters of an hour before the show was set to begin. The 82-year-old artist attributed the last-minute decision to “unforeseen circumstances” in a brief announcement posted to X, offering no additional details about the postponement.

Manilow revealed his lung cancer diagnosis in December after physicians detected a malignant lesion on his left lung while investigating a prolonged bronchitis infection. He underwent surgery to remove the affected tissue and stated at the time that doctors found no evidence the disease had spread, eliminating the need for chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

The cancelation marks another setback in his recovery timeline. In February, he postponed multiple tour dates across February and March following consultations with his medical team, during which a surgeon warned him his lungs remained insufficient for the physical demands of a 90-minute performance.

By May, Manilow reported substantial improvement, announcing he was cleared for June arena shows in the United Kingdom but remaining unable to resume his Westgate Las Vegas residency that month. He expressed optimism about his progress, crediting his training regimen and exercise routine for the advances in his recuperation.

Social media responses to Tuesday’s cancellation proved mixed, with some supporters offering encouragement and well-wishes for his continued healing, while others criticized the proximity of the announcement to showtime.