Fans of Barry Manilow should prepare for a dose of nostalgia peppered with a bit of goodbye as the beloved artist announces his final string of concerts, featuring a "The Last Cincinnati Concert" set for March 5 at the Heritage Bank Center. Those eager to witness the pop icon's adieu can snag tickets starting January 16, for what's being marketed as a memorable farewell. According to FOX19, Manilow, who's been open about his recent early-stage lung cancer operation, is using the stage not just to belt out the hits like "Copacabana" and "Mandy," but also to uplift local music educators with the "Manilow Music Teacher Award."
With the diagnosis now public and the surgery reportedly successful, the 82-year-old icon, characterized by his flamboyant stage presence and an exhaustive catalog of hits, has mapped out a robust tour schedule that starts on February 27 in Tampa, Florida, and runs through late April, hitting cities like Charlotte, Norfolk, and Nashville, as documented by Deadline. His Instagram feed has been a source of updates and heartfelt messages from the singer, assuring fans the shows will be some to remember, saying "Years from now, when you look back on these dates, you’ll want to know you were there to say goodbye," in what is shaping up to be a tour punctuated by poignancy and signature showmanship.
Continuing with his philanthropic streak, each concert doubles as a platform to honor music teachers — with nominees for the Manilow Music Teacher Award being revealed January 22 before voting opens to the public, the winning educator will bask in a $10,000 prize divided equally between cash and "Manilow Bucks" for classroom instruments. The initiative underscores Manilow's lasting commitment to music education, which has been a facet of his career beyond his chart-topping days.
Despite the heavy undertones of his cancer battle, Manilow's team has been upbeat about his recovery, asserting he's "feeling great" after the surgery that removed the cancerous spot from his lung, an issue initially discovered after being misinterpreted as bronchitis WLWT shared that with his new music slated for release this year the artist appears to be intertwining his farewells with the excitement of fresh material; this combination will likely provide both a reflective look back and an eager glance forward for fans across the country.
