Rod Stewart has sparked health concerns once again after cancelling the remainder of his 2026 farewell tour dates following heart surgery. The 81-year-old Maggie May rocker confirmed on Tuesday evening (August 11) that he had undergone a routine coronary stent procedure after cancelling two of his US shows last week.
Recovery and Return to the Stage
His team released a statement confirming that doctors are pleased with the star's recovery and that he has returned to his normal day-to-day activities. It added that he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage.
Rod himself also confirmed that he is 'very much on the mend' and would be back on stage soon, while his wife Penny Lancaster also shared a sweet update with the star. However, it's not the first time the singer has been forced to cancel shows due to illness.
Previous Health Scares
Earlier this year, the star also cancelled two dates in California and Las Vegas after falling ill with laryngitis. He faced backlash at the time as just hours later he appeared at Scotland's World Cup game in Boston against Haiti on June 14 with his two sons.
But just days later when he returned to the stage, he was forced to use an oxygen tank on stage after he 'nearly fainted' whilst performing at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City in June. During the gig, the Da Ya Think I'm Sexy singer could be seen leaning against the barriers and a pole at the side of the stage as he was visibly struggling to continue with his set.
After it became obvious he wasn't moving around the stage in his normal fashion, he paused the concert to receive assistance from backstage and finished the rest of the show sitting down after receiving oxygen. Never one to cause a fuss, Rod reassured fans he was 'absolutely fine'.
Cancer Battles and Other Ailments
However, it's not just minor health battles that Sir Rod has faced as he has also been diagnosed with cancer twice. His wife Penny Lancaster previously revealed on Loose Women in February that her husband is 'in the doctors all the time'.
The rock legend was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 before he fought prostate cancer in 2017 for two years. At the time the star kept his second diagnosis a secret before revealing his private health battle at a Prostate Project fundraiser in 2019.
While Rod has successfully achieved remission from both conditions, Penny added that his experience with cancer changed him forever. She explained: "But 26 years ago, when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, that was a huge shock to him and then prostate cancer about 10 years ago. Once you have cancer as a diagnosis it's like a little black shadow that's hangs over you. So he's in the doctors all the time so he doesn't waste time. He's in the gym, he's at the doctor's, he wants to go on forever."
During Covid, Rod also underwent a complicated knee replacement as a result of being an avid football player for most of his life. Just months later he had to have ankle fusion operations as a result of other football-related injuries.
Longevity and Future Plans
Despite all of this, Rod has really stood the test of time and is one of the oldest performing artists in the world. In recent years, he has not only been on tour but also headlined Glastonbury in the Legends Slot last summer.
Now at 81, Rod has previously admitted it may be time to start slowing down when it comes to his career. However, retirement doesn't appear to be on the cards anytime soon after he previously wrote on Instagram last year: "I shall never retire! I was put on this earth to be a singer and will keep doing so for as long as the good lord lets me."
