Barry Manilow abruptly walked offstage just two songs into his concert in Las Vegas on Friday and subsequently canceled his Saturday show after falling ill with bronchitis, according to representatives for the veteran performer.
The disruption at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino came one night after the 83-year-old singer launched what his team described as a triumphant return following a six-week hiatus. Manilow’s Thursday performance at the International Theater had proceeded smoothly, but the second night of his residency comeback unraveled almost immediately.
During Friday’s concert, Manilow stopped after performing only two songs and reportedly told the audience to “talk amongst yourselves” before exiting the stage, Billboard and Variety reported. His backing band continued playing instrumental arrangements for several minutes until an announcement over the public address system confirmed the show had concluded. Ticket holders later reported receiving refund notifications from Ticketmaster.
Addressing the sudden shutdown, a representative for the musician and the resort told Variety: “After a triumphant welcome-back concert on Thursday, Barry got hit with bronchitis and had to cancel his Friday and Saturday shows.”
A history of respiratory illness
The diagnosis carries elevated concern given Manilow’s recent medical history. In December 2025, the singer revealed that doctors had discovered early-stage lung cancer after ordering an MRI scan while treating him for a protracted case of bronchitis that spanned multiple relapses.
The scan uncovered a cancerous growth on his left lung, which was subsequently removed through surgery. In an interview with People earlier this year, Manilow called the diagnosis “a nightmare” but counted himself fortunate that he did not require chemotherapy or radiation. Over the summer, the singer also acknowledged lingering worries about his recovery, telling “Good Morning America” that he initially questioned whether his singing voice would ever sound like himself again following the operation.
Postponements and upcoming performances
The health battle has led to a series of schedule shifts for Manilow’s Westgate residency, where he previously surpassed Elvis Presley’s record for total career performances at the property. The run was originally set to resume in February, but medical recovery forced postponements into the spring and summer before dates finally picked back up.
After an active summer that included arena dates in the United Kingdom and a run of U.S. concerts, Manilow stepped away in late August after citing that his schedule had been “pushing a little too hard,” Billboard reported. Across a career spanning more than five decades, the pop star has sold more than 85 million records and generated classic radio staples including “Mandy,” “Looks Like We Made It” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”
The Westgate residency is listed to continue through April 2027, with Manilow next scheduled to take the stage for three consecutive nights starting Oct. 15. Representatives have not yet confirmed whether his bout with bronchitis will impact those upcoming shows.
