Rod Stewart has never been one for slowing down, but even he admits that the curtain will eventually have to fall. Now 81 and still charging across the globe with the same raspy charisma that’s defined his six-decade career, the Maggie May legend has once again addressed the question of retirement, and it’s clear he’s still in no rush to hang up the mic.
Despite telling fans last year that he was ready to step back from “large-scale” tours, Stewart has been anything but idle in 2025. According to his wife Penny Lancaster, he’s been plotting an extraordinary 80-show run to celebrate his 80th birthday, hardly the behaviour of a man slowing down.
Speaking to People magazine, Rod explained exactly why the thought of quitting doesn’t sit well with him. “I still enjoy what I’m doing. I love it,” he said. “You can tell it’s written all over my face. Absolutely love it.” Yet even amid the enthusiasm, there was a flicker of realism. “But all things have to come to an end,” he admitted.
Stewart ticked a major item off his professional bucket list earlier this year with his Glastonbury debut, but beyond that, there’s nothing left he feels he needs to achieve. “There’s no bucket list… I’ve done it all,” he said, making it clear that his continued performances are driven purely by love for the stage rather than ambition.
And he’s not done creating, either. “I’m supposed to be doing a country album,” he revealed. “And I’m halfway through doing an original album.” Even as he navigates the physical demands of his eighth decade, Rod credits his “hobbies,” regular workouts, and the unwavering support of his “loving family”, including his “gorgeous wife” Penny, for keeping him fit enough to continue.
Penny, promoting her new memoir, echoed that sentiment. “You can’t stop the man,” she joked. “He loves it so much.” Reflecting on their 18-year marriage, she described it as “an ongoing project” that requires care and attention, much like any meaningful relationship.
Whether he’s sharing a quiet coffee with Penny or belting out Sailing to a stadium crowd, Stewart shows no signs of abandoning the spotlight just yet. He may accept that “all things have to come to an end”, but for now, Rod Stewart is proving that the end isn’t here. Not even close.
