Rod Stewart cancels gigs after heart surgery

Rod Stewart has cancelled the remainder of his US tour, including a Las Vegas residency, after undergoing heart surgery.

The 81-year-old star shared the news on social media, telling fans he is "already feeling better" after successfully undergoing a routine coronary stent procedure.

He will take four weeks off to recover before returning to the stage, on the advice of his doctors.

Sir Rod had been scheduled to perform across Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota, as well as a six-night stretch at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I'm already feeling better and very much on the mend," he told his 1.7m followers in a message on Instagram. "I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who has taken such wonderful care of me.

"I'm deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down, but I look forward to getting back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon."

A further statement said doctors were pleased with the British star's recovery, that he is doing "very well" and has returned to "normal daily activities".

Sir Rod will now "take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage", the statement said. "Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates."

Information regarding affected performances will be shared by the respective promoters and venues, it added.

On Ticketmaster, all of Sir Rod's gigs up to the end of August are showing as cancelled.

Two further dates in Colorado are scheduled for September next year.

The announcement comes after the star postponed shows in Cincinnati and Cleveland earlier this month, following medical concerns.

He also cancelled and postponed shows in Nevada and California in May and June, telling fans he was on vocal rest due to a sinus infection, and later that he had been diagnosed with a respiratory infection that resulted in laryngitis.

In 2019, the singer revealed he had been fighting prostate cancer for three years but was "in the clear now, simply because I caught it early".

In 2023, he called in to a live Sky News phone-in and offered to donate money for medical scans, after hearing stories about treatment ordeals on the NHS. On the call, he recounted his own experience of an "empty" private clinic when he went for an annual check-up.

Earlier this month, the rocker welcomed his sixth grandchild after his daughter Ruby gave birth to a son called Levi.

Last year, he performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, playing the famous Sunday afternoon "legends" slot.

(c) Sky News 2026: Rod Stewart cancels gigs after heart surgery