As her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, took the legendary Pyramid stage at Glastonbury this June, Penny Lancaster felt a wave of pride watching the rock icon command the crowd. The model, TV personality, and photographer captured exclusive behind-the-scenes moments of Rod’s thrilling set for HELLO!, revealing the emotional journey leading up to his triumphant return to the festival after a serious illness threatened to derail his performance.
Stewart, 80, returned to Glastonbury for the first time since 2002, filling the coveted Legends slot on the festival’s closing Sunday. His show featured surprise guests including former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, and pop legend Lulu, delivering classics like Maggie May, Baby Jane, and Sailing in his signature flamboyant style — think bright pink and green suits paired with an open-necked white shirt.
But days before the performance, the mood was tense. Rod was battling influenza A — the worst strain of flu, Penny revealed — which forced him to cancel multiple US tour dates. “He’s never been so ill in his entire life,” Penny said. “About five days before Glastonbury, Rod said, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be well enough. I tried my voice out and it’s not working.’”
Determined not to let the illness win, Penny sprang into action. She rushed Rod to a London hospital where specialists examined his vocal cords. Alongside voice coaching and rigorous steaming treatments, Penny imposed strict voice rest and encouraged Rod to visualize success. “I said, ‘You have to visualize yourself being on stage and the great headlines, and manifest this whole experience, because it’s going to happen.’”
Her faith paid off. Two days before the festival, Rod’s voice returned, and “he was on top of the world,” Penny recalled. On the morning of the show, the family gathered to support him — their sons Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14, along with Rod’s daughters Ruby and Renee and their partners.
Backstage, excitement crackled through the air with the presence of Lulu, Mick Hucknall, and Ronnie Wood. Penny described the electric energy: “You could feel it pulsing.” Standing by Rod’s side, she emphasized their teamwork. “Just that glance at one another and revving him up and keeping those positive vibes going.”
After the set, the relief and joy were unmistakable. Penny captured Rod’s beaming smile as he descended the stage stairs, a picture of triumph and exhilaration. “He kept saying, ‘We did it.’ I said, ‘No, you did it, darling,’ and he went, ‘No, we did it — I couldn’t have done it without you.’”
Penny’s intimate account highlights not just Rod Stewart’s incredible resilience but also the strength of their partnership, proving that behind every great rock star is a devoted team — and in Rod’s case, a loving wife who helped him beat the odds to reclaim his Glastonbury glory.
