Rod Stewart, 79, has been announced as the first performer for next year's Glastonbury Festival, marking a major return to live music in 2025. The rock legend, who has been married to Penny Lancaster for over 20 years, recently denied reports of a rift in their relationship, telling fans they could 'not be more in love with each other'.
Stewart's path to lasting romance was not straightforward. He has eight children with five different mothers, and was married twice before meeting Lancaster. The couple briefly split early in their relationship, leaving Stewart heartbroken. He later wrote about the ordeal on his album 'Time', including a cover of Tom Waits' 'Picture In A Frame', which he dedicated to the separation.
Speaking about the split, Stewart said: 'Penny and I broke up for two weeks and the song is about that time. I asked her for a photo of herself in a frame so that I could see her when I went to bed and when I woke up.' The couple reconciled and married in 2007, renewing their vows in 2017.
Stewart credits intimacy, not just sex, as the key to their enduring marriage. 'Intimacy is the most important thing in a relationship. Don't take it for granted. I'm not talking about sex, but a kiss and a cuddle and a hold. Penny and I do that every morning,' he told People in 2021. He also advised against arguing after a glass of wine, saying disagreements should be left until the morning.
The singer, who has two sons with Lancaster, aged 17 and 11, says he learned from past mistakes. 'I met Penny in my 50s and if I had not learnt by that point in my life I was never going to,' he said. Stewart's Glastonbury performance is expected to be one of the festival's highlights.
