"Deep down, I wanted to go back – but my body knew what my heart didn't want to admit: I wasn't ready," Manilow wrote on Instagram
Mat Hayward/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Barry Manilow announced in December 2025 that he underwent treatment to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung
- He then announced in early February that he would have to postpone his first round of shows for his upcoming Arena tour
- On Feb. 20, he revealed he would be postponing an additional 13 shows
Barry Manilow still needs more time to recover from his lung surgery and is postponing the start of his upcoming part of his 2026 arena tour.
Manilow, 82, told fans on Instagram on Friday, Feb. 20, that he has to reschedule all shows he had planned from Feb. 27 to March 17.
The Grammy winner underwent treatment to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung in December. In the months since, he has been working out on a treadmill three times a day amid his recovery.
In his Friday Instagram post, Manilow said he had just gotten back from a "very depressing visit" to his surgeon. He told the doctor about his workout schedule, but noted that he "still couldn't sing more than three songs in a row."
"I was sure that I would be able to do the Arena shows in a few weeks," Manilow wrote, but his doctor "shook his head."
"He looked at me and then he looked at the floor. 'What?' I said," Manilow wrote.
His doctor then told him, "Barry, you won't be ready to do a 90 minute show. Your lungs aren't ready yet. You're in great shape considering what you've been through, but your body isn't ready. You shouldn't do the first Arena shows. You won't make it through."
The musician confessed he had "a feeling" the doctor would say that.
"Deep down, I wanted to go back-but my body knew what my heart didn't want to admit: I wasn't ready," the "Mandy" singer said.
Scott Legato/Getty
Although Manilow would have to reschedule the first 13 arena shows, he said his doctor told him he could "likely" still perform in Las Vegas on March 26, 27, 28, and April 2, 3, 4.
"I'm SO, SO sorry I have to reschedule some of these first Arena shows. Again!" Mailow wrote.
This is the second time the "Copacabana" singer has been forced to postpone shows this month. He already had to reschedule his Feb. 12 to Feb. 21 residency at Westgate Las Vegas to focus on his health.
"But when I do come back, I will COME BACK!!!" Manilow assured fans on Feb. 20, before thanking them for their support.
"The doctor said that my body had been through hell and that it needed time to heal. So, I'm going back to healing. All my love and gratitude, B."
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Mat Hayward/Getty
In December, Manilow said he would have to take a break from performing after doctors found the cancerous spot in his lung.
The icon later told PEOPLE he was feeling "great" and had "no symptoms."
"I’m thankful that my doctors were proactive and ran tests that typically wouldn’t be done," he continued, adding that the cancer is stage one. "They caught it very, very early."
Manilow continued, "I’m still healthy. I’m strong and I’ve still got my voice and my energy. The night I can’t hit the F natural on 'Even Now,' that’s the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it."
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