Penny Lancaster reveals husband Rod Stewart, 81, had ‘underlying heart issue’ as she gives health update after cancelled gigs

“He’s great. He’s really good,” she told Ms Feltz. “But what we didn’t know was there was an underlying heart issue.”

The Maggie May singer, who has previously battled both prostate and thyroid cancer, was compelled to scrap the remaining dates of his US and Mexico tour following the operation last month, including a six-night residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Ms Lancaster explained that a series of health setbacks had preceded the discovery of the cardiac problem.

She revealed her husband had suffered an upper respiratory infection, and separately encountered difficulties during a concert at high altitude.

During a performance in Utah in June, the veteran rocker nearly fainted on stage and was seen taking several puffs from an oxygen tank before finishing the show seated in a chair.

The 81-year-old had also pulled out of Las Vegas dates in May owing to a sinus infection, and withdrew from a San Diego gig in June after a respiratory infection left him with laryngitis.

A further cancellation followed in August at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Canada, just hours before he was due on stage.

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YOUTUBE – AT HOME WITH VANESSA

Ms Lancaster painted a vivid picture of the physical demands her husband places on himself during live performances, explaining why his medical team exercised particular caution before clearing him to return.

“If you can imagine a boxer in a dressing room warming up and psyching himself up for his performance, that’s Rod,” she said. “He’s on the cycling machine warming his legs up, warming his voice up.

“He’s getting prepared with his outfit. He’s like pumping his chest.”

She described how Mr Stewart sprints onto the stage rather than walking, then maintains that intensity for up to two hours.

Every four or five songs, she said, he dashes offstage “dripping wet” for a rapid costume change before heading straight back out.

Despite being 81, Ms Lancaster insisted her husband’s fitness rivals that of someone decades younger.

Ms Lancaster revealed that although his doctors had recommended a full four weeks away from touring and live performances, Stewart has wasted little time resuming physical activity.

“He’s already back in the gym,” she said, adding that the singer is “eager to get back” on stage.

However, she made clear that a group effort is under way to prevent him from overdoing things during his recovery period.

“We are collectively — there’s a team of us now between me and my brother and his trainer and doctors and everyone,” she said. “We’re not letting him get away with it. He has to do as he’s told.”

Ms Lancaster had earlier this month reassured supporters that Mr Stewart was operating at full capacity in his everyday life, even as his stage comeback remained on hold.