Rod Stewart Has Heart Stent Procedure, Cancels Tour Dates to Recover
Rod Stewart underwent a successful routine coronary stent procedure and will take four weeks off to recover, forcing the cancellation of his current tour dates.
A representative for the 81-year-old singer shared a statement with Rolling Stone on Tuesday, Aug. 11, saying Stewart is doing well and has returned to his daily activities. Stewart himself added a message: "I'm already feeling better and very much on the mend," and said he was "deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down" (Rolling Stone).
A coronary stent is a small mesh tube inserted into a narrowed artery to keep it open and restore blood flow to the heart. The procedure is common and minimally invasive, and Stewart's representative described it as routine.
On his doctors' advice, Stewart will spend four weeks recuperating and regaining full fitness before returning to the stage. That timeline makes him unable to play a string of upcoming dates that were part of his One Last Time Tour, which has been running across North America since 2024.
The immediate casualty was a show slated for Saturday at the Morton Amphitheater in Kansas City, Missouri. Stewart was then set to return to Las Vegas on Aug. 18 for performances at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, followed by gigs in Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, and a run of shows in Mexico — all now on hold.
The heart procedure follows a difficult stretch for the singer on the road. On Aug. 11, Stewart cancelled a concert at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, after doctors advised him to rest for at least 48 hours following a period of monitoring (Rocket Arena via Facebook). It was the second show affected in quick succession: days earlier, he had postponed a concert at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center, with the venue citing an "unforeseen but minor medical procedure" (People). Stewart also required supplemental oxygen following the procedure (Cleveland.com).
Further back, in June, Stewart cancelled and postponed a string of shows — including two Las Vegas concerts — on his doctor's advice. He also cancelled a San Diego appearance after being diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection that led to laryngitis. During a concert in Utah, he paused mid-performance to use an oxygen tank.
The health setbacks have drawn public scrutiny. After cancelling a show due to illness, Stewart was photographed celebrating Scotland's World Cup win, drawing criticism from fans who questioned the cancellation.
For ticket holders, the cancellations add up to a frustrating summer. The One Last Time Tour is billed as Stewart's farewell to large-scale touring, and fans who bought tickets — some at premium prices for a performer widely expected to wind down his road schedule — now face waits for rescheduled dates or refunds, depending on the venue.
No rescheduled dates have been announced yet.
