Loose Women’s Penny Lancaster opened up about supporting her husband, Rod Stewart, as he battled an illness over the summer
The singer was forced to postpone tour dates due to a medical issue(Image: Getty)
Last month, Sir Rod Stewart announced that he had been forced to postpone some dates on his One Last Time tour after falling ill. In an emotional statement at the time, the 81-year-old said: “I’m deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down, but I look forward to getting back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon.”
Now, Rod’s long-term wife, Penny Lancaster, has shared a reassuring update on the singer’s health. Speaking on Vanessa Feltz’s At Home With Vanessa podcast, the former model said he was “really good” as she explained what had happened to her husband.
Gushing over their enduring marriage, she said: “More recently when Rod’s been unwell and I’ve been by his side, it sort of grows that bond of like inseparable love.”
Addressing his health, she added: “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.
“But we didn’t know was that there was an underlying heart issue. Fortunately it was at the right time at the right place and they detected a slight blockage which needed a stent.”
Penny, who married Rod in 2007, said the singer had returned to the gym as he prepared for his return to the stage. Praising his fitness, she continued: “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.
“Luckily for Rod it was detected and now he’s eager to get back.”
Sharing the advice doctors had given him, she continued: “Doctors recommendations were to not tour for four weeks so he has a full recovery and is fit to go back but he’s already back in the gym.”
However, Penny insisted that she was making sure Rod did not overdo it with his fitness regime, adding: “We’re not letting him get away with it, he’s got to do what he’s told.”
Rod’s team has since announced that he will return to the stage early next year. In May 2026, the father-of-eight said his next UK tour could be his last before he retires from the road.
“I’ve got 40 odd shows this year,” Rod said of the US dates on his tour, before seemingly hinting at a 2027 UK tour. “I’m touring the UK next year, doing The O2… That’ll probably be it, I think,” he added.
