Barry Manilow cancelled a scheduled concert in Lexington, Kentucky, on Aug. 5 [4] just before the performance was set to begin.
The cancellation of the show by the Grammy-winning singer highlights the ongoing health struggles facing the performer as he continues his career into his 80s.
Manilow, whose age is reported as 83 [1] by some sources and 82 [2] by others, announced the decision via a social-media post. In the post, he said "unforeseen circumstances" were the reason for the sudden change in plans. The announcement reached fans approximately 45 minutes [3] before showtime.
While the official statement remained vague, other reports provide more detail regarding the singer's condition. Some outlets attribute the cancellation to a recent cancer diagnosis and related health struggles [4]. Additional reporting indicates that the singer has faced complications resulting from emergency oral surgery.
The abrupt nature of the cancellation left many attendees in Lexington without a performance. This event follows a pattern of health-related challenges that have impacted the singer's ability to maintain a full touring schedule.
Manilow has not provided further specifics on his recovery timeline. The singer's team has not commented on the specific medical details cited by third-party reports, maintaining the official line of unforeseen circumstances.
“Barry Manilow cancelled a scheduled concert in Lexington, Kentucky, on Aug. 5”
The discrepancy between Manilow's official 'unforeseen circumstances' statement and reports of cancer and surgery complications suggests a desire for medical privacy during a high-profile health crisis. For a legacy artist in his 80s, these sudden cancellations signal a precarious balance between the physical demands of live performance and the realities of aging and serious illness.
