Singer Barry Manilow said Monday he has lost his singing voice following life-saving treatments for lung cancer [1, 2].
The loss of his vocal ability poses a significant challenge for the 82-year-old entertainer [1], as his career has been defined by his distinct singing style for decades.
Manilow said the news during an interview on the June 1 episode of Good Morning America [2, 3]. He said that the vocal loss followed aggressive medical treatments, which included the removal of a left-lung lobe earlier this year [4, 5]. This update comes two months after the singer announced he was cancer-free [2].
Despite the positive news regarding the cancer, Manilow said the impact on his voice was unexpected. He said that he attempted a sound check about one month ago but found the results discouraging [2, 3].
"My voice, I don't know whether it's coming back, I did my first sound check about a month ago and I didn't sound like me at all," Manilow said [3]. "I just couldn't believe that it's over," he said [3].
The entertainer said he has a strong desire to return to performing, noting that his physical health has improved since the surgery [3]. He said he is in great shape and ready to go, though he remains uncertain about his vocal capacity [3].
Manilow's experience highlights the complex recovery process following thoracic surgery and oncology treatments, where the primary disease may be eradicated but permanent side effects remain.
“"I just couldn't believe that it's over."”
The situation illustrates the potential long-term sequelae of aggressive lung cancer treatments. While the removal of a lung lobe and associated therapies can be life-saving, they may cause permanent neurological or physiological changes to the vocal cords and respiratory capacity, potentially ending the professional career of a vocalist regardless of their overall physical recovery.
