AARP The Magazine EXCLUSIVE: Rod Stewart, Still Rocking at 80, Gets Candid About Family, Healing, and Learning to Sing Again After Cancer Diagnosis
AARP The Magazine EXCLUSIVE: Rod Stewart, Still Rocking at 80, Gets Candid About Family, Healing, and Learning to Sing Again After Cancer Diagnosis
The rock legend reflects on re-learning how to sing, life beyond the stage and why turning 80 feels like a gift.
WASHINGTON—After more than five decades in the spotlight, legendary artist Rod Stewart reflects on a life filled with triumphs, challenges and his ever-lasting love for music. In the June/July 2025 issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM), the performer shares his deeply personal journey of recovery after battling cancer – and how the process of learning to sing again has completely transformed his connection to both his voice and legacy.
With over 250 million albums sold and decades spent on stages across the world, Stewart is one of rock’s most unmistakable voices and best-selling artists of all time. But after undergoing surgery and vocal rehab following a cancer diagnosis, he tells ATM, “I had to learn to trust my voice again. That’s not something I ever thought I’d have to do at this age” – a recovery that means starting over in ways he never expected.
The interview dives into Stewart’s reflections on family, his gratitude for slowing down, and why he’s embracing being 80 years old with pride, not fear.
The following are excerpts from ATM’s June/July 2025 cover story featuring Rod Stewart. The issue is available in homes starting in June and online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/.
On finding a new passion for gardening after a cancer diagnosis:
“’They didn’t tell me that when I went in for the operation,’ Stewart says now with a roll of his eyes. ‘Only when I came out.’ After the surgery, one of the world’s most famous singers was unable to sing. I seriously considered making my living by taking care of plants and trees. Not as rewarding as my first career, but a good way to stay active.”
On staying physically competitive at 80:
“To stay in shape and feed my competitive appetite, I recently began running 100-meter sprints on my private track. I got it down to 19 seconds by learning how to push off. I’m going to try and do 17 seconds, which I think is a world record for an 80-year-old.”
On staying motivated:
“There’s so much more music I want to create. I’ve got a covers album, a country album, and a Faces album all in the works. I just can’t stop. Even when I’m spending time with my grandkids, my passion for music drives me. I feel like I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted, but there’s still more to come.”
On staying close with family through fame and fortune:
“My family seems like the archetype of one that didn’t have much money but was close and loving. I was the youngest by ten years, and I was given lots of attention, plus the odd chocolate now and then. Didn’t have much money, but it didn’t seem like a worry at the time. When I heard ‘Maggie May’ on the radio for the first time, I turned around and went all the way back to my mum and dad’s house to tell them. They started crying, and that was a magical moment. When I got a check for $1 million from Mercury Records, I showed it to them. And I took them everywhere with me.”
On embracing aging with energy and enthusiasm:
“When I feel I might be sick enough to cancel a concert, that’s when I go, ‘Maybe I’m getting old.’ Then a couple of days later, bang, I’m back at it again. I enjoy doing concerts more than I did back then. Maybe I’ve come full circle to appreciate how lucky I’ve been.”
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About AARP:
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.