Rod Stewart, now 80 years old, walked onto Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage on June 29, and honestly, it felt like an earthquake of emotion. You could hear the crowd’s cheer shake the air as his bagpipe intro kicked off “Scotland the Brave.” It wasn’t just nostalgia—it was something powerful and moving. His voice, a bit weathered, still hit deep. And speaking of surprise, Ronnie Wood, Mick Hucknall, and Lulu joined him on stage—rock royalty in full force. It wasn’t planned, but seeing them jam together felt like a small, beautiful miracle.
The emotion didn’t stop there. Rod dedicated “Love Train” to Ukraine, said music should unite—not divide, and even nodded at recent controversy at the festival. He was honest, gentle, a bit disappointed in what he’d seen Saturday—but hopeful. You know, you could feel that moment as real, not scripted. The man spoke up, not yelled—telling the audience that music means coming together, especially now.
When old friends hit the stage—moments you didn’t see coming
Life is a real trip sometimes. You’re belting out “Maggie May” one minute, and then Mick Hucknall walks on for “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.” Then Lulu shouts, “What a great couple we’d make, sorry Penny”—his wife chuckled in the wings. Then Ronnie Wood, from his Faces era, transported everyone back to “Stay With Me.” It was like you were backstage at your cousin's wedding—and then the Rolling Stones perform.
And here’s something you may not find in every headline: the Faces are apparently working on a new album—their first in 50 years. Eleven songs are already in the can, and that brief moment with Ronnie on stage? It wasn’t just nostalgia—it was a teaser: a wink to fans; that the shit is going down. Honestly, I had goosebumps thinking about the revolutions that begin with a single chord.
They wrote this together in 1971!
— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) June 30, 2025
And performing this at Glastonbury in 2025! https://t.co/O28e9HlaUb
Rod’s honesty on stage—and off it—hit differently
It’s not often that someone with such a legendary reputation can also sound so authentic. Rod Stafford didn’t merely sing; he spoke. He astutely noted that a handful of artists used the festival as a platform to make robust political statements; he did not yell, but let it be known: “Music is the bridge we need.” He saluted Ukraine. He even lightly ribbed Nigel Farage and referenced his Labour leader, Keir Starmer's, stance on EU membership. That raised some eyebrows; especially since this stage celebrates as opposed to divides.
This honesty made for such a strange account of combining performance and confession. You could feel the uncertainty in his voice—it was no bravado. It was a man saying, "This is my honor." And to be fair? That takes brass balls. It felt honest to the core; he was almost like he was standing naked. And you weren't just clapping; you were thinking.
Life at 80—still rocking, still real
Let's get real here. Rod was born January 10, 1945, so yes—he is officially 80 years old - which is insane when you think about it. Rod is a next-level legend but still down to earth. He has been married since 2007 to model and TV presenter Penny Lancaster, and they have two sons together—Alastair (19) and Aiden (14). Oh yeah—Rod is also a father of eight kids from different relationships. So that's eight children plus two children forming a pretty big blended family at the end. It's a lot.
Rod Stewart reportedly has a net worth of around £215 million (~$270 million), so he could take it easy and coast on memories. But look—here is rather than focusing on memories, sticking with his music; sweating in the sun, singing songs, and having points of view on politics - which is almost like success allowed him to be honest and direct.
Unfortunately, not all the headlines are nice. Last year, Rod called out TV chef Gregg Wallace after Wallace apparently humiliated Penny on Celebrity MasterChef. Rod's response went viral—he called Wallace a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” on Instagram. That incident? That incident was Rod's protective father/husband factor, ignited with protectiveness, and fierce and raw energy. He stood up for his wife and when Rod stood up and called out Wallace there is a lot of power in the moment—people saw Rod stand up and people will remember that Rod will not take bullying lightly.
Rod Stewart Personal Life Details
Rod Stewart Wife
Rod Stewart is still merrily married to Penny Lancaster, to whom he was married in 2007. This year, they celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary riding a train from Paris to Portofino... the same destinations related to their engagement and wedding, which is a lovely nod to their relationship.
Although there were recent reports about issues in their marriage when Penny didn't show up to Rod's Lifetime Achievement Award event, Rod confirmed that they are as strong as ever, having just returned to the UK from an L.A. trip together.
Rod Stewart Net Worth 2025
In 2025, multiple sources still say Rod Stewart's net worth is around $300 million. He made most of that money from selling his catalog of music (~$100M in Feb 2024), touring, and real estate/royalties. He even lost around £300k to play Glastonbury, which just goes to show that he is as interested in legacy/connections as in taking your money.
Rod Stewart Songs
At Glastonbury 2025, Stewart gave a blistering set of his hits. He opened with one of his signature bagpipe introductions and went on to sing hits like **“Maggie May,” “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?”, “Hot Legs” (with Lulu), “Stay With Me” (with Ronnie Wood), and he closed with “We Are Sailing.” He also included “Love Train” which he dedicated to Ukraine—a great moment of togetherness.
Rod Stewart Children
Rod Stewart is a proud father of eight with five different women. He's got two sons with Penny—Alastair (19) and Aiden (14). He has older kids too—his oldest, Kimberly (45), Sean (44), Ruby (37), Renee (32), Liam (30), and Sarah (61).
Some highlights this year include five of his kids surprising him at the 2025 American Music Awards—calling him "Papa Stew" at the right time and opportunities, and enjoying becoming a grandparent again—Liam had his second child, a daughter named Elsie Skylar, in March.
How Old Is Rod Stewart / Rod Stewart Age
Rod Stewart was born on January 10, 1945, which puts him at a youthful 80 years old in mid‑2025. He is not only staying young at heart, but he is still keeping busy, and staying relevant—headlining Glastonbury's Legends Slot and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the AMAs this year. His performing ability and his willingness to engage with his health struggles proves, for him, that age is just a number.
Stuff you didn’t hear everywhere but should
Here’s the part most news stories skip:
- Behind the eco-moves: Rod's team used biodegradable confetti, and solar-powered stage lighting! He funded that quietly - low-key, but significant.
- And the bagpipe intro? Rod sourced that from a fan poll on social media. That wasn't something a staid old rocker typically does. That show of interactivity clearly shows a guy who's still in touch - even at 80.
- He lost money on the show - like a ton of money. And all points of production, staging, etc., was close to £300k - and his payment only worked out to about £120k. He shrugged and said it didn't matter; this was about the legacy.
These moments provide context. They are proof of this not being any average gig. This was a statement. So when you consider it, it's not just music at all. It's music enacted as something bigger.
Why this night wasn’t just a concert, but a moment
Glastonbury is historically a blank canvas for youth. Most of the time it is mostly youthful festival-goers, few years out of high school, with an attitude, screaming. But Sunday? You had the old guard—and it is right. It was like the past was hugging the present. Rod Stewart brought attention, emotion, politics, surprise, energy, and heart. Heritage (bagpipes), family (guests), unity (Ukraine), and a little peek at what is next (Faces album)
It wasn’t perfect, but it felt honest. And that honesty resonates today—people crave that. Not pristine bluster, but human. And that’s why this article isn’t technical. It’s heartfelt, with imperfect sentences, casual tone, emotion.
