Barry Manilow diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, postpones January concerts

Barry Manilow announced Monday that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung.

The 82-year-old singer revealed the diagnosis in a statement posted on Instagram. Manilow said he had recently completed six weeks of bronchitis followed by a five-week relapse. After returning to perform at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, his doctor ordered an MRI as a precautionary measure.

"The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed," Manilow wrote. "It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early."

According to a statement issued by Manilow's representatives, the spot is a stage one tumor. Doctors do not believe the cancer has spread, and Manilow said he is undergoing additional tests to confirm their diagnosis. The surgery is scheduled to take place in late December.

Manilow stated that he will not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment. "No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns," he wrote.

The singer said he expects to need approximately one month to recover from the surgery. As a result, nine concert dates scheduled for January at his residency will be postponed. Manilow suggested he would return to performing by Valentine's Day for his longstanding residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

"Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around," Manilow wrote in his statement.

Manilow is known for a string of hits spanning the 1970s and 1980s, including "Copacabana," "Mandy," and "Could It Be Magic."