Sir Rod Stewart is making an iconic return to live performance as he's announced as the first star to play next year's Glastonbury Festival.
The 79-year-old legend announced the incredible news on Instagram and will be playing the Legends Stage - 22 years after he last played at Worthy Farm. It comes as the rock icon admitted he doesn't let the fear of death consume his life as he opened up about turning 80 in 2025, the same year he returns to Glastonbury.
However, the rock legend acknowledges his "days are numbered," yet he is determined to live his remaining years to the fullest. Rod has faced ongoing health issues in his life. Back in 2019, the star opened up about battling prostate cancer for three years, before receiving an all-clear. Rod previously encountered another health scare in 2000 when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had to undergo surgery to remove a tumour.
Now, the star says he hopes to live another 15 years but admitted he doesn't have the stamina to keep up with the rock-and-roll lifestyle like he used to. He told The Sun : "I'm aware my days are numbered but I've got no fear. We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket. I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can. I say few — probably another 15. I can do that easy mate, easy."
He admitted: "I'm not like I was in the '70s and '80s and I can't stay up all night, get drunk and go mad and still have a voice just like that. Nowadays I have to protect my voice before and after every show." Rod, 79, also admitted he's now "more mindful of his health." He said: "I am more aware of my health now than before. You should be when you start getting on a bit. I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I think men in particular should take advantage of all the wonderful medical science out there."
Previously the music star revealed how his cancer had affected his voice. Speaking on Loose Women in 2021, he said: "I had a touch of thyroid cancer, it was over and out within 10 minutes. I don't want to pretend I fought cancer for months and months. It was really easy to get rid of, but I did lose my voice – totally gone.
"It was scary because I couldn't sing a note. You know, they chop right through your throat all the muscles are torn apart and they've all got memories so they have to remember again. So it took me a long time. I'd start off, 'Wake up Maggie..' oh, it's gone. 'Wake up Maggie I think I've got..' oh, it's gone again. It took me that long, it took me six months to get it back again." At the time of his diagnosis, Rod told USA Today: "Needless to say, it was a shock. But fortunately, I had a particularly slow-growing thyroid cancer which was surgically removed, and now I have a clean bill of health.
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