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Sir Rod Stewart was forced to cancel a California concert on medical grounds just hours before he was due to appear on stage.
The singer, 81, had been slated to perform at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California, on Friday night (12 June) but had to pull the plug on the gig at the last moment after receiving advice from doctors.
“Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California,” a statement posted on his official Instagram account read.
“He travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take to the stage this evening.”
Stewart later shared a picture of himself standing on stage in the empty venue, telling fans that while he was “feeling much better”, his voice was still struggling.
“Well here I am in beautiful Chula Vista as the stage is being taken down around me,” he wrote.
“Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not.
Stewart’s team shared the news in an Instagram post (Instagram @sirrodstewart)
“I’m very disappointed and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans.
“I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight, but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible. I will do my utmost to reschedule.”
The musician is currently on the American leg of his One Last Time tour, which began in 2024 and has been billed as something of a farewell to live performance, and will next perform in Colorado on June 15.
Stewart shared an Instagram photo posing in the empty stadium (Instagram @sirrodstewart)
In May, the former Faces frontman had to cancel two Las Vegas shows following medical advice, while recovering from a sinus infection.
Although he may be embarking on a string of US tour dates, in recent months Stewart has made no secret of his disdain for President Donald Trump.
Earlier this year, he criticised Trump’s claim that NATO soldiers avoided the front lines in Afghanistan, slamming the president as a “draft dodger”.
“I was born just after [World War II], and I’d like respect for our armed forces who fought and gave us our freedom, so it hurts me badly, deeply, that I read the draft dodger Trump is criticizing our troops in Afghanistan for not being on the front line,” he said in an Instagram video.
“We lost over 400 of our guys,” he added. “Think of their parents, think about it, when Trump calls them almost like cowards. It’s unbearable.”