Sir Rod Stewart has spoken candidly about his health and reflected on his life as he prepares to retire from touring with The Final Encore after six decades on the road. The 81-year-old singer admitted he "can no longer jump around" as he once did, but revealed he still trains like an athlete.
Health Struggles and Recovery
Earlier in the summer of 2026, Stewart experienced upper respiratory and sinus infections, and briefly used an oxygen mask after nearly fainting during a concert in Utah due to high altitude. He told The Sun: "I had a bout of illness, which was bad luck. I'd just had bronchitis at the same time as I was playing above altitude. I was in a right state."
He recounted the incident, saying: "The geezer who worked for me didn't tell me. I said, 'Are we above sea level?'. He said, 'Nah, of course we're not'. So, I ran out and did three fast songs. All of a sudden, I was like, I couldn't breathe. I got through the show, but it was painful."
More recently, Stewart had a routine coronary stent fitted after doctors detected a slight heart blockage. He previously fought and beat prostate cancer after being diagnosed in 2016, and thyroid cancer in 2020. The thyroid operation initially threatened his singing voice, requiring months of vocal retraining, but he successfully recovered.
Final Tour and Gratitude
Stewart remains keen to reassure fans that he is now fine. Two extra dates have been added to the almost sold-out UK run of The Final Encore due to huge demand for tickets.
Reflecting on his career, he commented: "When I was at school, I never dreamed that when I started singing, it would end up like this — me, performing on stage at 81. It's been the best life and I am so grateful."
