Barry Manilow Faces Vocal Challenges Following Lung Cancer Surgery

Barry Manilow Christopher DeVargas/Stiletto Entertainment hide caption

Christopher DeVargas/Stiletto Entertainment

Renowned singer Barry Manilow, 83, continues his recovery after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, enduring unexpected complications that impacted his vocal abilities.

“It’s only been four months, and they say it takes a year before you come back from something like that,” Manilow shared with *Morning Edition* host Steve Inskeep regarding his rehabilitation. While the surgery targeted a section of his lung, surgeons had to navigate through his vocal cords—a risk that has left him questioning their promises of minimal damage. “They promised me that they were very gentle and they didn’t hurt my vocal cords,” he admitted. “But I’m not so sure.”

Determined to return to the stage, Manilow is focused on reclaiming his singing voice. His upcoming album, *What a Time*—his first new music release in 15 years—features songs he composed prior to his diagnosis. “This album is filled with my favorite, favorite songs that I’ve ever written,” he reflected. “And I’m so happy there’s now a place for them.”

Though the orchestration mirrors his iconic 1970s style, the creative process began differently. Initially, Manilow experimented with modern influences, including Billie Eilish. “I actually tried to write in the style of Billie Eilish,” he said. “I abandoned my attempt to modernize with the admission: ‘To my ear, I can’t find the chorus. I can’t find the hook.’”

Before fame, Manilow honed his songwriting skills by crafting jingles for brands like State Farm, Pepsi, and McDonald’s. “It taught me how to write a pop song because the rules are the same,” he noted. “You’ve got to grab the listener within the first 15 seconds… I attribute my ability to actually write pop songs because I had a couple of years of writing jingles.”

*What a Time* is set for release on June 5. The audio version of this story was produced by Paige Waterhouse.

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