Rod Stewart's Wife Penny Lancaster Shares Update After Health Scare They Didn’t Expect

Sep 28, 2026 by apost team

Rod Stewart had spent decades proving he could command a stage with seemingly endless energy, but a frightening moment during one of his stage performances ultimately revealed a health problem that even the legendary singer had not known about.

In September 2026, Stewart’s wife, Penny Lancaster, opened up about his recovery and revealed that doctors had discovered an underlying heart issue after the singer nearly fainted during a concert in Utah in June. The 81-year-old rocker had been performing at high altitude when he became noticeably winded and needed oxygen during the show.

At the time, Stewart had also been dealing with a couple of upper respiratory infections, making it difficult to immediately determine what had caused him to struggle onstage. But further medical evaluation uncovered a slight blockage that required a coronary stent procedure.

Lancaster explained that the discovery had come at exactly the right moment.

“What we didn’t know was there was an underlying heart issue,” she said while appearing on the “At Home With Vanessa” podcast. She added that doctors had detected the blockage “at the right time, at the right place.”

Stewart subsequently underwent what his representatives described as a routine coronary stent procedure in August 2026. His team announced that doctors were pleased with his recovery, but he was advised to take four weeks away from performing so he could regain his strength.

For Lancaster, that break was particularly important because Stewart’s concerts were anything but leisurely.

Lancaster described Stewart as someone who did not simply walk onto the stage and stand behind a microphone. Before a show, he warmed up on a cycling machine and prepared his voice before changing into his stage clothes. Then, once it was time to perform, he would reportedly run onto the stage and immediately launch into an energetic set lasting up to two hours.

“He doesn’t just walk on, like he runs on,” Lancaster explained, describing his performances as being almost like a sprint.

The singer had been forced to cancel the remainder of his 2026 tour, including scheduled shows in the United States, Mexico and his Las Vegas residency, while he recovered. Stewart admitted he was disappointed to miss the performances, but thanked the doctors and nurses who had cared for him and said he was looking forward to getting back to his fans.

And according to Lancaster, Stewart was already eager to return.

By September, she said he had resumed his normal daily activities and was still full of energy. He had also returned to the gym under carefully monitored instructions and was recording new music.

Lancaster joked that she, her brother, Stewart’s trainer and his doctors had effectively formed a team to make sure the famously energetic singer followed medical advice.

While Stewart’s “One Last Time” run had been billed as the end of his large-scale world tours, he had previously made clear that he had no intention of retiring completely.

“I love what I do, and I do what I love,” he said in 2024.

After his unexpected health scare, that sentiment appeared to remain unchanged. For Stewart, stepping away from the stage had been temporary — and his desire to keep making music had remained as strong as ever.

apost.com

What are your thoughts on Rod Stewart’s staunch intention to keep performing in his 80s? Do you think the singer should keep pushing or slow down? Let us know, then pass this along to other fans of the legendary artist!