Reveals ‘Life-Threatening’ Cancer Diagnosis That Left Him Reeling
There are few voices in British rock as instantly recognisable, or as beloved, as Sir Rod Stewart’s. That raspy, honey-and-gravel croon has soundtracked generations of heartbreak, hope, and hedonism. From the wild days of Faces to the stadium-filling solo anthems, Rod’s life has been a riot of sequins, scandal, and showmanship. But beneath the swaggering exterior and the cheeky grin, the man behind “Maggie May” has weathered storms that would flatten lesser mortals. And this summer, as he returns to the Glastonbury stage for the first time in 23 years, he does so not just as a legend, but as a survivor—of fame, of excess, and, most harrowingly, of cancer.
For decades, Rod Stewart’s name has been synonymous with rock’s golden age. Eight children by five different women, three wives, and a personal life that’s filled more tabloids than some politicians’ careers. The world has watched him morph from the spiky-haired mod of Highgate to the silver fox of Knightsbridge, and through it all, he’s kept us guessing—never a dull moment, as the man himself might say. But even his most ardent fans were stunned when, in 2019, Rod revealed a secret he’d been harbouring for three long years: a diagnosis of prostate cancer that, in his own words, left him “reeling”.
It’s hard to imagine Rod Stewart—forever strutting, forever grinning, forever young—grappling with something as grim and grounding as a cancer diagnosis. But in true Rod style, even his brush with mortality is laced with a certain gallows humour and a stubborn refusal to be cowed. “When you are so close to something that is potentially life-threatening, you tend to get your life in perspective,” he later said, his tone a mixture of candour and that trademark Stewart steel.
The story began not with symptoms—Rod insists he felt little out of the ordinary—but with a sense of responsibility, a proactive approach to health that, in hindsight, may well have saved his life. Regular screenings, routine check-ups, and a willingness to listen to his doctors meant that when the news came, it was caught early. A routine prostate-specific antigen test flagged something amiss. The diagnosis that followed was a shock, but it was, as he now knows, a blessing in disguise.
Rod didn’t rush to announce his illness to the world. Instead, he and his wife, the statuesque and ever-supportive Penny Lancaster, kept the news to themselves. For three years, the cancer was their private burden, shared only with their eldest children—those old enough to understand the implications, the fear, the uncertainty. For the younger ones, Rod and Penny decided, there would be time enough for explanations if things took a turn for the worse. Mercifully, that day never came.
The treatment was gruelling. Rod underwent a three-month course of intensive radiation therapy after it was discovered that the cancer had spread beyond the prostate gland, making surgical removal impossible. It was, by any measure, a harrowing ordeal. Yet Rod, ever the fighter, met it head-on. He overhauled his diet, committed to regular exercise, and leaned on Penny and his family for support. It was a battle fought quietly, away from the glare of the spotlight, but it was a battle all the same.
By July 2022, Rod received the all-clear. He was, in his own words, “one of the lucky ones”. But the experience left its mark. The bravado may remain, but there’s a new note of urgency in the way he speaks about men’s health. “Guys, you’ve got to really go to the doctor,” he urges, using his platform not just to entertain, but to educate. For a man who once seemed invincible, it’s a rare admission of vulnerability—and a powerful message to his legion of fans.
But prostate cancer isn’t the only health scare Rod has faced. In 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer—a threat not just to his life, but to the very instrument that made him famous. Once again, early detection and swift treatment saw him through, but the memory lingers. More recently, he’s battled strep throat, Covid-19, and a particularly nasty bout of flu that forced him to cancel several high-profile concerts, including a string of Las Vegas dates earlier this June. The cancellations sparked a flurry of rumours: would Rod, now 80, be fit enough to take his place in the Sunday legends slot at Glastonbury? Was this finally the end of the road for Britain’s most enduring rock’n’roll survivor?
If you know anything about Rod Stewart, you know he’s not one to let a little thing like illness keep him down for long. The man who once sang “Tonight’s the Night” is, if anything, more determined than ever to keep the party going. “He may be getting on,” as the saying goes, “but there’s never a dull moment in the life of a rockstar.” With eight children, four grandchildren (and a fifth on the way), and a career that shows no sign of slowing, Rod is living proof that age is just a number—and that legends never truly retire.
His return to Glastonbury this year is more than just a comeback. It’s a victory lap, a defiant two-fingered salute to the years, the critics, and the diseases that tried—and failed—to bring him down. For fans, it’s a chance to see a master at work, to sing along to the anthems that defined their youth, and to celebrate a man who has given so much of himself to the world.
But for Rod, the meaning runs deeper. The brush with cancer has changed him, in ways both subtle and profound. There’s a new sense of gratitude, a sharper awareness of the fragility of life. He speaks more openly now about his fears, his regrets, and the lessons he’s learned. The man who once seemed bulletproof is, at last, letting us see the cracks—and in doing so, he’s become more relatable, more human, and, if anything, more heroic.
It’s not just about survival, though that in itself is no small feat. It’s about resilience, about the refusal to be defined by adversity. Rod Stewart has always been a chameleon—reinventing himself with every decade, every album, every love affair. But this latest chapter may be his most inspiring yet. He’s proof that you can stare down your demons, face your darkest fears, and still come out swinging.
The road hasn’t been easy. There have been moments of despair, of doubt, of bone-deep exhaustion. But through it all, Rod has clung to the things that matter most: family, music, and the unshakeable belief that tomorrow is another day. Penny Lancaster, his rock and confidante, has been by his side every step of the way. Together, they’ve weathered storms that would have sunk lesser couples. Their bond is stronger for it, forged in the crucible of shared adversity.
As he takes the Glastonbury stage tonight, Rod Stewart isn’t just performing for the crowd. He’s performing for everyone who’s ever faced a diagnosis with dread, who’s ever lain awake at night wondering if they’ll see another sunrise. He’s singing for the men who put off that doctor’s appointment, for the families who’ve watched a loved one fight for their life, for the survivors and the strugglers and the silent sufferers. His message is simple, but urgent: don’t wait. Get checked. Fight for your future.
It’s a message that resonates far beyond the footlights and the festival fields. In a world where men are still too often taught to tough it out, to ignore the warning signs, to keep their fears to themselves, Rod Stewart’s candour is nothing short of revolutionary. He’s not just a rock star. He’s a role model, a cautionary tale, and, perhaps most importantly, a beacon of hope.
Of course, this being Rod, there’s still plenty of mischief and mayhem left in the tank. He’s the first to admit that he’s no saint. The stories of wild nights, whirlwind romances, and scandalous affairs are as much a part of his legend as the music itself. But these days, there’s a new note of humility in the mix—a sense that, for all the highs and lows, he’s grateful just to be here, still standing, still singing, still stirring souls.
He’s also a grandfather now, with four grandchildren and a fifth on the way. The man who once seemed allergic to commitment has become the patriarch of a sprawling, boisterous clan—a role he relishes with the same gusto he once brought to the world’s biggest stages. “Family is everything,” he says now, and you believe him. The twinkle in his eye may be a little softer, the steps a little slower, but the heart is as fierce as ever.
Looking back, it’s clear that Rod Stewart’s life has been shaped as much by adversity as by triumph. The cancer diagnoses, the cancelled gigs, the brushes with mortality—they’re all part of the tapestry, the price of a life lived at full tilt. But if there’s one thing Rod Stewart has taught us, it’s that you don’t have to be defined by your setbacks. You can choose to fight, to hope, to love, and to sing—no matter what the future holds.
So tonight, as the sun sets over Worthy Farm and the first chords ring out across the fields, spare a thought for the man at the microphone. He’s more than a legend. He’s a survivor, a fighter, and, above all, a man who knows the value of a second chance. Sir Rod Stewart has faced death and come out the other side—not unscathed, but unbowed. And as he belts out those timeless hits, he’s not just entertaining a crowd. He’s reminding us all to cherish every moment, to never take a single day for granted, and to keep on dancing, no matter what life throws our way.
Because if Rod Stewart can do it—if he can stare down cancer, heartbreak, and the relentless march of time, and still come back for one more encore—then so can we. Tonight, he’s yours. And for that, we are all the luckier.
