#SHOWBIZ: Rod Stewart cancels US tour, recuperates from heart surgery

British rock icon Sir Rod Stewart, aged 81, has abandoned his upcoming U.S. concert dates following a heart operation, his social media platform announced. An Instagram post on Tuesday revealed the gravel-voiced musician, renowned for chart-toppers like "Sailing," had successfully undergone a routine coronary stent procedure. The operation aims to alleviate blocked or constricted coronary arteries by inserting a tube that enhances blood circulation.

Originally scheduled to perform in a series of U.S. venues this month, including Las Vegas, Stewart will now focus on recuperation for the next four weeks, under his doctors' guidance. His management confirmed he will be unable to fulfill his current tour commitments. The Scottish singer-songwriter, a prolific hitmaker in the 1970s and 1980s, has maintained an active touring calendar despite his age.

In 2025, Stewart reflected, "I love what I do, and I do what I love. I'm fit, have a full head of hair, and can run 100 meters in 18 seconds." Stewart had previously postponed several U.S. performances due to health concerns, most recently in Cincinnati on Sunday, citing an "unforeseen but minor medical procedure." In June, he abruptly canceled a California concert due to laryngitis but faced backlash for performing at a World Cup match the following day.

Later that month, Stewart was observed using oxygen during a Utah show and informed the audience he had nearly fainted.