Upstage Lung Cancer Hosts 18th Annual Barry Manilow Tribute Concert

WATERTOWN, MA, UNITED STATES, October 7, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Upstage Lung Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the performing arts to raise awareness and fund lung cancer research, is hosting its 18th annual benefit concert.

The concert will celebrate the music and legacy of Barry Manilow, who, despite his surprise diagnosis, remains optimistic about his recovery. In December 2025, doctors discovered a stage-one cancerous tumor in Manilow’s left lung. The singer attributed his early detection to "pure luck and a great doctor." This narrative resonates with Hildy Grossman, the founder and lung cancer survivor of Upstage Lung Cancer, who emphasizes the importance of early detection through accessible screening and innovative diagnostics.

The evening will be hosted by Joyce Kulhawik, an Emmy Award-winning arts and entertainment critic. Featured vocalists include Brian De Lorenzo, Hildy Grossman of The Follen Angels, Michael Hammond of The Company Theatre, and Paula Markowicz of Divas With A Twist. The concert will also feature the announcement of ULC’s annual Fan Award to Bianca Bye and Leah Phillips, founders of the Young Lung Cancer Initiative. Other guests include Francine Jacobson, MD, MPH, a thoracic radiologist, and Lauren Coye, a young lung cancer survivor.

Upstage Lung Cancer’s core mission is to spotlight new directions in lung cancer research and early detection. Over the past 20 years, the organization has funded more than $4.5 million in early detection research grants, investing in research opportunities at leading institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Koch Institute at MIT. The concert will support these efforts and raise funds for early-detection initiatives.

The concert aims to unite people around a shared cause, leveraging the power of music to create awareness and drive research.

Attendees can purchase tickets and register for the event through the Upstage Lung Cancer website. All proceeds will support lung cancer research and early-detection initiatives.