Rod Stewart Gave Her Up for Adoption-Now His
Daughter Reveals the Painful Truth
Rock and pop singer whose timeless hits like “Maggie May” have sold over 120 million records worldwide, has long been celebrated as a musical legend. But behind the fame and flashing lights lies a deeply personal and complicated family story -one recently brought into the spotlight by his eldest daughter, Sarah Streeter.
Born in November 1963 to Stewart’s then-girlfriend Susannah Boffey, Sarah’s early life was marked by hardship. As a teenager, Rod Stewart was “absolutely stone broke,” and the young father made the difficult decision to give Sarah up for adoption. For many years, Sarah lived apart from the father she only later discovered was one of the world’s most famous rock stars.
Their reunion in adulthood was far from the warm, uncomplicated embrace she had hoped for. Reflecting on their first meeting, Sarah recalled in a 2010 interview, “It became clear he only agreed to meet me under pressure. It was uncomfortable for both of us.” The hoped-for familial closeness never materialized. “My mom asked me if he might hug me but he didn’t. I felt like a fan, not someone with blood ties.”
The painful gulf between Rod Stewart the rock star and Rod Stewart the father has been a defining obstacle for Sarah. “It’s hard to see him as my dad-he’s a rock legend first,” she told The Mirror in 2018. “You can’t get away from the fact that he’s Rod Stewart, the star, but when we’re together I put that at the back of my mind.” The challenge of separating the public icon from the private man has shaped their relationship in profound ways.
Yet, with time, healing has begun. Sarah emphasized, “There’s no anger there. I never was angry about what happened really, just sad.” She now recognizes the shared pain: “I see things differently and realize that it has been as difficult for him over the years as it has been for me.” Following the passing of her adoptive parents, Rod Stewart made sincere efforts to rebuild their bond. “Since her mom and dad have died, we’ve tried to come together and be close, and it’s working out pretty well,” she shared.
Sarah Streeter’s story offers a candid glimpse into the complex intersection of fame, family, and identity. For Rod Stewart, the journey of balancing a legendary music career with fatherhood-especially to a daughter once given up for adoption-reveals a deeply human side far removed from the concert stage’s roar.
As the Stewart family story continues to evolve, Sarah’s heartfelt reflections remind us that even rock legends face universal challenges: bridging the gap between public persona and private love, and the timeless desire for parental connection and acceptance.
