Rod Stewart Undergoes Heart Procedure, Cancels Tour Dates to Recover
Sir Rod Stewart has successfully undergone a routine coronary stent procedure and will take four weeks to recuperate on doctors' advice, forcing the cancellation of immediate tour dates.
The news was confirmed in a statement Stewart shared on his Instagram account and provided to Billboard on Aug. 11. A coronary stent is a small tube inserted into a narrowed artery to keep it open, a common and well-established procedure. Stewart's representatives said doctors are pleased with his recovery, according to the Mirror.
The cancellation hits two consecutive shows first. Stewart's Aug. 9 concert at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati was postponed after the venue cited an "unforeseen but minor medical procedure." His Aug. 11 performance at Cleveland's Rocket Arena was then canceled after doctors advised at least 48 hours of rest.
Stewart had been mid-tour on his One Last Time Tour, with dates running through the summer and into autumn. The schedule had him at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Aug. 14 and the Morton Amphitheater in Kansas City on Aug. 15. His Encore Shows residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas was set to resume Aug. 18.
The four-week recuperation period puts those near-term dates in jeopardy. Stewart's North American touring schedule was set to resume Sept. 1 at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, with additional September performances planned at Illinois' Ravinia Festival, shows in Mexico, and two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Billboard
The statement struck a reassuring tone. Stewart confirmed the procedure was routine and that doctors were pleased with how he is recovering. No further medical details were disclosed.
For fans holding tickets, the immediate question is rescheduling. Postponed dates typically carry over to new nights, though full details on replacements for Cincinnati and any affected shows beyond that have not yet been announced. Promoters generally advise holding on to tickets pending updated information.
Stewart, 81, has toured nearly uninterrupted for decades, and the One Last Time Tour was billed as a farewell run of large-scale outings. The setback is medical, not dramatic, and the four-week timeline is standard for stent recovery.
