Rod Stewart, 80, Cancels Upcoming Shows as He Fights the Flu

Music icon Rod Stewart, 80, has canceled several of his upcoming concerts as he recovers from the flu. ​

The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter released a statement on social media about the cancellations.​

“I have to cancel and reschedule my next six concerts in June as I continue to recover from the flu,” Stewart wrote on Instagram. “So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon. Sir Rod [broken heart emoji].” ​

The canceled shows include: ​June 7, Las Vegas ​June 8, Las Vegas ​June 10, Las Vegas ​June 14, Stateline, Nevada ​

The shows on June 12 in Rancho Mirage, California, and June 15 in Paso Robles, California, have also been rescheduled. ​Additional information on remaining tour dates is available on Stewart’s website.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 70 to 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths in the United States have occurred among people 65 years and older, and about 50 to 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in this age group. The CDC also states that adults ages 65 and older should get the high-dose flu vaccine or the adjuvanted flu vaccine, as both have been shown to evoke a stronger immune response in older adults.

​Precautionary measures, such as calling your health care provider, staying home, washing your hands and drinking plenty of fluids, will help you combat the virus. Consuming certain foods, including sweet potatoes, beans, salmon and garlic, can also help alleviate symptoms associated with the flu. ​

“As we get older, our immunity starts to decline, but if we get the right nutrients, we can help our immune systems do their jobs to protect us against viruses like the flu,” says Samantha Heller, a clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Health. ​

Although the flu has him temporarily sidelined, Stewart still has a lot to celebrate this year. ​

At the 2025 American Music Awards, he received the AMA Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to him by five of his eight children, whom he didn’t know would attend the show. Stewart said he was “absolutely flabbergasted” and thanked the elders who inspired him in his youth, including Sam Cooke, David Ruffin and Muddy Waters. ​

The current AARP cover star recently shared his workout routine, which allows him to keep performing.​

“Lots of women, drugs and wine. [Laughs.] No, I keep myself very fit,” Stewart said. “I played soccer all my life—don’t so much anymore, because I had a knee replacement. And I’ve always had a trainer—same guy for 38 years. I have an indoor pool, massive gym, golf course, everything. ​

“We do a lot of underwater training, where the trainer throws a brick into the pool and I have to dive in, push the brick to the end of the pool, and come up. Frank Sinatra once said to me, ‘Rod, the secret to being a great singer is having powerful lungs. Do lots of underwater swimming, where you hold your breath.’ ”​