Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster reveals star had "underlying heart issue" leading to recent surgery

24 September 2026, 09:08 | Updated: 24 September 2026, 09:23

Sir Rod is getting back to health after a successful procedure to implant a stent in his artery.

Rod Stewart this week announced his return to touring with a series of live shows in the US, after he was forced to cancel a number of concerts earlier this year for health reasons.

The legendary singer had pulled out of four weeks of dates on his farewell One Last Time tour to recover from a heart procedure, and his wife Penny Lancaster has now given fans an update on his health.

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"He's great," Penny told Vanessa Feltz’s YouTube show At Home With Vanessa.

"He's really good. He'd gone through a couple of incidents where he had an upper respiratory infection. And then he was at a concert where there was very high altitude, so it would affect anybody."

Sir Rod was forced to pause a show mid-concert earlier this year to use an oxygen tank.

“But what we didn't know was there was an underlying heart issue," she continued.

Penny Lancaster Gives an Update on Rod Stewart After His Heart Operation

"I mean, he's like one of the fittest guys I know. Forget being fit for 80-odd. He's fit for someone my age in their 50s.

"But you know, you get young kids collapsing with heart issues unknown to them, fortunately it was at the right time, at the right place and they detected a slight blockage which needed a stent.

"Which according to a lot of research, appears most people over age of 65 will often need or require a stent. As one gets older, over the age of 65, 75, to get heart disease or prostate cancer, he's had both.

Penny added: "Luckily for Rod it was detected, now he's eager to get back.

Rod Stewart - One More Time (Official Music Video)

"The doctor wanted to know what his performance level was like – not talking about bed, on stage – so I said well imagine a boxer in a dressing room warming up for his performance, that's Rod.

"He's on the cycling machine warming his legs up, warming his voice up, prepared with his outfit, pumping his chest.

"The doctor's recommendation was not touring, no shows for four weeks, a full recovery so he is fit to go back. He's already back in the gym!

"Collectively, a team of us, between me, my brother, his trainer, doctors, we're not letting him get away with it. He has to do as he's told."