Barry Manilow Drops Huge And Unexpected News

Barry Manilow is postponing his retirement with six encore performances.

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Earlier this year, the famed singer announced that he was done performing after his farewell tour called The Last Concerts. The 82-year-old wanted to walk away from his more than 50-year career while he was still “healthy” and “strong” and had his “voice” and “energy.”

While Barry is sticking to his word and walking away after The Last Concerts, he has decided to extend the tour because he’s not ready to say goodbye just yet.

According to an Instagram post, Fanilows across the pond will have a chance to see the 70s icon in Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, and London. In a statement, Barry explained why he decided to extend his farewell tour.

“I swear, I SWEAR I really meant it when I said goodbye to everyone in the UK on the last night of our fantastic run at the great London Palladium,” he began. “The audiences there were fantastic as usual and that last night was very moving, knowing that I wouldn’t be seeing my U.K. friends anymore.”

“It was odd flying home because I wasn’t tired, my voice had held up for [the] entire run, and each show was more exciting than the last,” he added. “I wasn’t even out of breath at the end of each show.”

Barry Manilow went on to say he needed to “leave ‘em wanting more” because “I’m probably going to lose my hair, gain a big pot belly and need a cane to dance around to Copacabana.” 

“But, as of now, I can still run around the stage,” he gushed. “I can still hit the high F Natural at the end of Even Now, and I still look fabulous!”

Barry noted that he “meant it” when he said “goodbye,” but he doesn’t want to just yet. So he’s going to have “a great, big Barry Manilow concert!”

“We’re coming back,” he promised. “Hope you all come. We’ll have a ball!”

You can read his entire statement and buy your pre-sale tickets here.