Barry Manilow Beats Lung Cancer, Preps Comeback at 83

At 83 years old, Barry Manilow just survived one of the scariest challenges of his six-decade career, and he's not slowing down.

The legendary singer underwent lung cancer surgery that required doctors to pass through his vocal cords to remove part of his lung. For someone whose voice has brought joy to millions, it was a terrifying prospect.

"They promised me that they were very gentle and they didn't hurt my vocal cords," Manilow said recently. "But I'm not so sure."

His voice is raspier now than fans remember from hits like "Mandy" and "Copacabana." But doctors told him recovery takes a full year, and he's only four months out from surgery.

That hasn't stopped him from preparing to return to the stage. Manilow is already rehabilitating his singing voice in support of "What a Time," his first collection of new original songs in almost 15 years.

"This album is filled with my favorite, favorite songs that I've ever written," he said. "And I'm so happy there's now a place for them."

The orchestration is classic Manilow, instantly familiar to anyone who loved his 1970s work. Surprisingly, he initially tried writing in a modern style inspired by Billie Eilish before returning to what he knows best.

"To my ear, I can't find the chorus. I can't find the hook," he admitted about today's pop music.

Why This Inspires

Manilow's story shows that passion doesn't retire. After beating cancer and facing the possibility of losing his voice forever, he could have stepped away from music completely.

Instead, he's fighting to get back on stage. His dedication to his craft and his fans proves that age and adversity don't have to mean the end of doing what you love.

His skill for writing hooks came from an unexpected place. Before fame, Manilow wrote jingles for State Farm, Pepsi, McDonald's and Band-Aid that people still remember today.

"It taught me how to write a pop song because the rules are the same," he explained. "You've got to grab the listener within the first 15 seconds."

The new album releases June 5, and Manilow is determined to celebrate it the way he's always celebrated music: by performing for the fans who've stood by him for over 50 years.