Barry Manilow made his return to live performances in Las Vegas following a six-week hiatus for his lung cancer recovery. However, the singer’s first show back was not just about music, as fans brought back a decades-old tradition of tossing underwear onto the stage.
Barry Manilow returns to Las Vegas stage as fans revive cheeky concert tradition
Page Six reported that Manilow performed at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday night. He is scheduled to take the stage again Friday evening as part of his ongoing residency.
Addressing the audience, the “Mandy” singer said, “I’m having a good time with you guys!” He also acknowledged his health struggles, telling fans, “This is the first time back in a long time. I have some medical problems, but I’m back!”
The crowd responded enthusiastically before reviving the underwear-throwing tradition associated with his concerts in the 1970s. After picking up a pair of boxers, Manilow joked, “You want me to send this to the laundry or something?” He then looked around and asked, “Is there another one?”
When he spotted a bright pink pair, the singer picked it up and laughed, “I’ll keep this,” pretending to put it in his pocket. Reflecting on the audience’s reaction, he added, “God, I feel like I’m a teenage idol again.”
Manilow announced his lung cancer diagnosis in December 2025 after an MRI detected a cancerous spot on his left lung. He subsequently rescheduled his January concerts to allow time for recovery.
After completing a summer tour in August, the singer explained that he needed to slow down following an intense schedule of 29 shows in 68 days. “It seems that we were pushing a little too hard,” he wrote in a social media post, announcing that performances would resume at the Westgate on October 8.
Before his comeback, Manilow also shared his excitement on Instagram. He wrote, “Who’s ready to turn @westgatevegas into the hottest spot north of Havana this weekend?!? ?? Vegas, here we come! ?✨”
The singer is expected to continue his Las Vegas residency through the end of the year.
This story originally appeared on Realitytea
