Rod Stewart has issued a health update after being taken for heart surgery. The Maggie May hitmaker, 81, was forced to cancel the rest of his US tour dates after undergoing a coronary stent procedure in August, and was advised to recuperate by doctors, who found a blockage caused by an underlying heart issue.
Recovery update
Rod has been spotted out at the gala night for Sinatra The Musical at Aldwych Theatre with his wife Penny Lancaster, and gave an update on how he is feeling after the operation. According to the Daily Mail, when asked how he was feeling, Rod said: “F*****g brilliant! I swam 400 metres the other day.”
At the show, Rod was seen eating Maltesers, and reportedly risked a parking fine after leaving his white Rolls-Royce parked on double yellow lines for the duration of the musical. Rod wore a black blazer embroidered with sequinned palm trees and a silk shirt, with matching trousers and diamond-studded trainers. Penny rocked white heels with patterned tights and wore her blonde tresses loose past her shoulders.
Tour plans
Rod previously said it is “time to say farewell” to touring after announcing his Final Encore tour, which will travel around the UK in 2027. Penny, however, insisted Rod is “never retiring”, explaining: “He is world touring! He's going to be touring until 2028 doing the Rock n Roll and then he changes direction to the Great American Songbook.”
Rod has personal connections to Frank Sinatra, as he made an appearance at the gala night. Frank’s daughters are godmothers to two of Rod’s kids, and he told the Mail at the show: “He always offered good advice.”
Farewell announcement
The singer previously announced that his Final Encore tour will be his last. He said: “My dear friends, The time has come to say farewell to life on the road. After more than six decades, The Final Encore will most definitely be my last. I’ve been singing the music I love since I was 19 years old, and I’ve had the privilege of taking it around the world to all of you.
“It has given me a life beyond anything I could ever have imagined, and I hope I’ve given you some fond memories in return. So, may I take this opportunity to thank you for making this extraordinary life possible. I hope you’ll join me so I can thank you the best way I know how… with the music and one hell of a show. See you there.”
