Barry Manilow cancels more Vegas shows amid cancer treatment
Barry Manilow had not been able to perform live since he confirmed in December he had been diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer.
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Barry Manilow has canceled more concerts, but this time the issue does not appear to be entirely health related.
The legendary singer was expected to perform Friday, Aug. 21, at Westgate Las Vegas, when his team announced on social media that the show and his Aug. 22 performance were both canceled “due to technical and vocal problems.” The post did not clarify whether the “vocal problems” were technical or associated with his health.
The post came after Manilow’s Aug. 20 show was also cut about 40 minutes in due to technical malfunctions, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, citing Manilow’s manager and husband, Garry Kief.
The 83-year-old singer was singing “Can’t Smile Without You” when the lyric video behind him malfunctioned midway through, and he appeared to have trouble with his earpiece. He left the stage shortly after.
“In essence, everything was out of sync,” Kief told the Las Vegas newspaper.
USA TODAY has reached out to Manilow’s reps for comment.
Barry Manilow Las Vegas tickets to be refunded
Regarding ticket holders receiving refunds for the canceled shows, a follow-up comment from Manilow’s Instagram account wrote, “Refunds will automatically be processed via your point of purchase.”
The latest cancellations come weeks after the Grammy-winning singer halted a show in Kentucky on short notice due to “unforeseen circumstances” and said it would be rescheduled. The singer did not explain the circumstances and has not announced a new date for the concert, which was already a makeup date for one canceled in March.
The move also comes amid the pop legend’s recovery, after a cancer spot was discovered on one of his lungs, as well as a battle with pneumonia and a nearly monthlong hospital stay.
“I’m not sure I can do 90 minutes [on stage]. … I’m pushing myself as much as I can every day,” Manilow previously told USA TODAY. “And now and again, I think I’m fine. And then the next day I can’t talk, no less sing.”He continued, “Nobody thinks about that they’re going to die. But a couple of nights I said to myself, ‘Whoa, have I done everything I wanted to do? Have I been good to people?’ It’s that same story you think of when you get that close [to death]. And I was right there, I was inside that.”
Manilow’s residency at Westgate Las Vegas is set to run through December.