Rod Stewart was captured in worrying video footage shortly before he was forced to postpone a concert in Cincinnati after being hospitalised. In the clip, which was posted on X, the 81-year-old star sang his classic hit Maggie May but in some parts it appeared he struggled to catch his breath.
Video Draws Millions of Views
At time of writing, the video in question has received over 1.6 million views. Fans expressed their concern for the singer while others called for the chart-topping star to retire.
"Can someone please tell Rod Stewart that it’s okay to retire! This is embarrassing!" one viewer commented. Another wrote: "I hope he is ok."
Fans React to the Performance
A third chimed in: "Anyone old enough to remember the Faces will just feel sad watching this. His old songs are tired out and his new ones middle of the road. His ego keeps him going. He's got plenty of money. The spark has faded. Leave it it gently smouldering and head into the sunset."
A fourth shared: "Further proof that boomers will cling to whatever power or influence they have until the day they croak. They're relentless." A fifth opined: "Some of the big stars from back in the day just don't know how to 'fade away into the sunset'. And it is 'embarrassing'."
However a sixth did have some empathy writing: "He’s one of the better older performers and sings totally live without any vocal tracks being pumped in. I’ve watched many videos of him from this tour and he is singing remarkably well, especially for his age."
Previous Health Scare and Show Postponement
In June, Rod nearly fainted mid-show and required an oxygen tank. In a video obtained by TMZ, the crooner began to heavily lean on various pieces of equipment while still attempting to perform. At one point, he turned around and gave a nod to a team of people backstage who quickly tended to him.
The clip came to light as the 81-year-old singer called off a show at Riverbend Music Center in the Ohio city on Sunday, August 9, at the eleventh hour. The venue broke the news of his hospitalisation on social media just hours before the performance.
In their statement, they said, "Due to an unforeseen but minor medical procedure that required prompt attention, Rod Stewart's performance tonight in Cincinnati has been postponed." This comes days after Stewart devastated fans for canceling his Niagara Falls concert hours before the show.
