Barry Manilow is extra grateful for his family and fans’ support after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
On December 22, 2025, the Grammy winner shared the news that doctors discovered a cancerous spot on his left lung that needs to be removed.
“As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks. Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” Manilow wrote via Instagram. “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
The singer added that he will be undergoing surgery to “have the spot removed.” As of now, he doesn’t expect to undergo chemotherapy or radiation.
Manilow is confident he can return to the Westgate Las Vegas for his Valentine’s Day weekend concerts in February 2026.
Although the “Copacabana” singer tries to keep his personal life on the private side, he has the support of his longtime husband, Garry Kief. Keep reading to learn more about the man who has been in Manilow’s life since the late ‘70s:
Who Is Barry Manilow’s Husband?
Kief is Manilow’s longtime manager, taking on the role soon after the pair were introduced.
“Garry saved my life. As my career exploded, it was just crazy. Going back to an empty hotel room, you can get into a lot of trouble if you’re alone night after night after night,” Manilow shared in a November 2023 episode of Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? “But I met Garry right around when it was exploding. And I didn’t have to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had somebody to cry with or to celebrate with.”
Kief is also the president and CEO of Stiletto Entertainment and has worked with other clients, including Judy Garland‘s daughter Lorna Luft.
In his personal life, Kief has one daughter from a previous relationship.
How Did Barry Manilow and Garry Kief Meet?
Manilow and Kief were introduced back in 1978. During a 2017 interview with People, the singer said it was love at first sight.
“I knew that this was it,” he told the publication. “I was one of the lucky ones. I was pretty lonely before that … Garry didn’t know what I did, even though I had all these records out. He was a guy, and I was a guy, so we could just deal with each other like two normal people, not like a superstar and a person.”
When Did Barry Manilow and Garry Kief Get Married?
In April 2014, the couple exchanged vows in an intimate wedding ceremony at their 53-acre estate in Palm Springs, California.
According to People, the couple invited 20 to 30 guests to their house under the guise of a luncheon. Close friends later discovered they were actually attending a wedding celebration.
When Did Barry Manilow Come Out as Gay?
In 2015, news of Manilow’s marriage and sexuality made news. After some years of reflection, the singer calls the experience “a blessing and a curse.”
“I thought I would be disappointing [my fans] if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything,” Manilow told People in 2017. “When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful — strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.”
