Glenn Hughes home and recovering after 10-hour heart surgery

Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes is back home and recovering after 10-hour open-heart surgery.

Hughes, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, spent eight days in hospital after the operation at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles, Rolling Stone reported on Oct. 16. He confirmed the news himself in an Oct. 15 update on his official website saying he was home again.

Surgeons replaced his aortic valve, the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. It was not his first such operation. He previously had an aortic valve replacement in 2013.

In his update, Hughes thanked his surgeon, Dr Richard Shemin, and the wider medical team for their care. The team treated him during the eight-day stay before his discharge. He said he was now recovering at home.

The surgery explains several months of disrupted live plans. Hughes cancelled a planned six-week tour in the months before the operation. He then announced his retirement from touring, citing ongoing health issues and doctors' orders to undergo open-heart surgery.

That sequence began early in the year. On Jan. 9, Hughes cancelled his 2026 touring plans, saying a health issue needed attention, according to his website. He then announced on Aug. 4 that he was retiring from touring and live performance. The surgery took place about two months after that announcement.

Hughes had remained musically active before stepping back from the road. He released his most recent solo album, Chosen, in 2025. The album was released on Sept. 5 after a nine-year gap between solo records, according to his website.

For fans who have followed the cancellations since January, the update provides the first full account of what was wrong. Hughes has retired from touring, so no further live dates are planned. His statement focused on recovery and thanks for support.