Rod Stewart is preparing for a major musical milestone: his return to Glastonbury after an absence of 23 years. The legendary singer, now 79, is set to headline the iconic festival’s “Teatime Legends” slot in June 2025, marking a long-awaited comeback to one of the world’s most celebrated stages. Stewart, who first headlined Glastonbury in 2002, shared his excitement with fans on X (formerly Twitter), confidently declaring he was “proud and ready” for the occasion. “More than able to take the stage again to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June,” he wrote, setting the stage for what promises to be a show to remember.
At 79, Stewart will be one of the festival’s oldest performers, a title he shares with Paul McCartney, who was 80 when he graced the Glastonbury stage in 2022. However, it’s the late Burt Bacharach who holds the title of the oldest performer in Glastonbury history, having taken the stage at 87 in 2015.
Despite approaching his 80th birthday before the festival, Stewart is showing no signs of slowing down. While he recently announced that 2025 will mark the end of his “large-scale world tours,” he made it clear that he’s not ready to retire just yet. “I love what I do, and I do what I love,” Stewart said in an Instagram post on November 20. The “Maggie May” singer explained that while he plans to step back from the intense grind of global tours, he’s still keen to perform, stating, “This will be the end of large-scale world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire.”
Stewart, known for his vibrant personality and boundless energy, added, “I’m fit, have a full head of hair, and can run 100 meters in 18 seconds at the jolly old age of 79.” Looking ahead, Stewart hinted at a more intimate future for his performances, mentioning a potential Great American Songbook tour, focusing on smaller venues and a more personal connection with his audience.
“I may move onto a Great American Songbook, Swing Fever tour the year after next — smaller venues, more intimacy,” he shared, leaving fans to eagerly anticipate what’s to come. But in true Stewart fashion, he added with a wink, “but then again, I may not…” before signing off as “The Ambiguous Sir Rod Stewart.”
While Stewart’s global touring days may be behind him, his 2025 is already shaping up to be a busy year. Alongside his highly anticipated Glastonbury performance, Stewart will be wrapping up his 13-year Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, with performances running from March through June. Following that, he’ll embark on his One Last Time tour, hitting 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada, with the tour kicking off in Austin, Texas, before concluding in St. Louis in August.
Rod Stewart may be stepping away from world tours, but with Glastonbury on the horizon and a full slate of performances, it’s clear that the legend’s career is far from over.
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