Stronger than ever: Penny Lancaster announces Rod’s comeback

Good news for all Sir Rod Stewart’s fans. His wife, Penny Lancaster, has announced in an interview with the Press Association (PA) that her husband will return “stronger than ever” following heart surgery and the resulting concert cancellations.

The singer had to undergo minor heart surgery in August (a routine coronary stent procedure) and, with a heavy heart, was subsequently forced to cancel all concerts still scheduled for 2026 in the US and Mexico. Now his wife Penny, to whom Sir Rod has been married since June, has spoken out for the first time about her husband’s return in an interview with the Press Association news agency.

“He’ll come back stronger than ever,” said the 55-year-old. “Rod can’t wait to see his fans again, especially after receiving so many wonderful messages of support.”

Penny explained that Rod is already ‘back to his usual daily routine’. But the doctors have advised us to postpone or cancel the current tour, as you are aware of the associated risks. I had to explain to the doctor what Rod’s performances are like – he doesn’t just sit on a stool or behind a piano, but runs about for nearly two hours, changing his costume four times because he’s completely drenched in sweat by the end. So, I compared him either to a boxer coming out of his changing room and stepping into the ring, or to a horse breaking from the starting blocks. I mean, he sets off and charges straight into the fray at 160 km/h and doesn’t stop. “For him, it’s like a sprint, which is why, as a precaution, the tour unfortunately had to be cancelled – something he was very sad about.”

When asked why her husband doesn’t simply flop down on the sofa and put his feet up all day, Penny commented: “I mean, he just can’t sit still; I can never find him. He’s got his hobbies, of course – I mean, he’s just been to the gym and been training – but we had strict instructions regarding the amount of training he was allowed to do, and it’s a sort of gradual build-up, along the lines of: build up slowly, increase gradually. But he’ll come back stronger than ever. I’ve had enough trouble reining him in as it is; now he feels like a new man.”

At the moment, the plan is for Sir Rod to return to the US next year for a number of concerts. A tour of his home country, the UK, is also reportedly in the pipeline.