After a visit to his surgeon, legendary singer-songwriter Barry Manilow on Friday canceled his upcoming arena shows, including a March 1 performance at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Manilow, 82, was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer in December.
“I’m so sorry that I have to reschedule the first batch of Arena shows” scheduled for Feb. 27 through March 17, Manilow said on X. “But when I do come back, I will COME BACK!!!”
Canceled shows also include his March 11 concert at North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, which was a makeup date for a concert canceled in January.
Rescheduled dates were not announced.
’You won’t make it through,’ surgeon said
Manilow has captivated generations of fans with such classics as “Mandy (1975),” “Copacabana” (1978), “I Write the Songs” (1975) and “Can’t Smile Without You” (1978).
His condition has limited his endurance behind the mike, he said.
“Very depressing visit,” Manilow said about Friday’s trip to his surgeon. “I told him that I have been using the treadmill three times a day (I have) but that I still couldn’t sing more than three songs in a row before I had to stop.
“But I was sure that I would be able to do the Arena shows in a few weeks,” he said.
“’You won’t make it through,’” he said his surgeon replied, shaking his head and looking down.
“Well, I had a feeling he’d say that,” Manilow posted. “Deep down, I wanted to go back — but my body knew what my heart didn’t want to admit: I wasn’t ready.”
Joe Marusak
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