Barry Manilow has postponed the start of his upcoming arena tour after a “very depressing visit” with his surgeon.
The 82-year-old entertainer – who is battling lung cancer- had surgery in December to remove part of his lung and his doctor doesn’t believe he is ready to return to the stage just yet.
Explaining that he has been advised to push his February shows back to March, Barry wrote on Instagram: “Hi Everyone. Barry here. Just got home from visiting the surgeon. Very depressing visit.
“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 shook his head. He looked at me and then he looked at the floor. ‘What?’ I said.
“He said, ‘Barry, you won’t be ready to do a 90 minute show. Your lungs aren’t ready yet. You’re in great shape considering what you’ve been through, but your body isn’t ready. You shouldn’t do the first Arena shows. You won’t make it through.’
“Well, I had a feeling he’d say that. Deep down, I wanted to go back-but my body knew what my heart didn’t want to admit: I wasn’t ready.”
Barry went on to share the rescheduled dates and promised his fans that he is doing everything he can to get back on stage.
He said: “I’m so sorry I have to reschedule the first batch of Arena shows from February 27th – March 17.
“He said I could likely do the Vegas shows at the very end of March and the second batch of Arena shows beginning in April.
“I’m SO, SO sorry I have to reschedule some of these first Arena shows. Again! But when I do come back, I will COME BACK!!!
“In the meantime, and once again, thank you all for your wonderful notes and phone calls of support. The doctor said that my body had been through hell and that it needed time to heal. So, I’m going back to healing. All my love and gratitude, B.”
Manilow went public with his cancer diagnosis in December revealing it was discovered after he spent weeks battling a bout of bronchitis.
