Rod Stewart appears to make record recovery, hours after canceling San Diego concert
SAN DIEGO - Rod Stewart has achieved record success as one of the most popular and acclaimed singers of his generation. Now, he may be setting a new record for making a remarkably swift recovery from laryngitis.
On Friday night, Stewart's San Diego concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre was officially canceled just 45 minutes before its schedule 7:30 p.m. start time. A sinus infection was the reason for the last-minute cancellation, according to an announcement made by Live Nation, the show's promoter.
Later on Friday, a post on the 81-year-old vocal legend's social media platforms stated that Stewart "on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis… is unable to take to the stage this evening."
Still later on Friday, Stewart posted an apology for the cancellation and stated his desire to reschedule his San Diego show, which was part of his "One Last Time" farewell tour. That post included a photo of him on stage in the empty amphitheater.
So, it was more than a little surprising when Stewart posted a new video clip on Instagram Saturday morning, in which he speaks enthusiastically - and briefly sings - without a hint of laryngitis. The ailment typically takes at least one week to recover from and can last up to three weeks.
With two of his adult sons, Aidan and Alastair, standing next to him on a private jet, Stewart says in the video, "Here we are flying off to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup." (Although he was born in London, Stewart's father was Scottish and the singer has long embraced his family's Scottish heritage.)
As the clip concludes, Stewart and his sons sing - to the tune of White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" - the words "No Scotland, no party!" several times.
Speaking on background Saturday, a Stewart representative told the San Diego Union-Tribune that they had spoken Friday night with the singer's physician "and what we posted was accurate" about the reason for the concert's cancellation.
The representative further explained that Stewart was administered "a few rounds of steroids and treatment in the hopes of being able to perform. He was there (at the venue) but we had to text because he had no voice. Evidently, (the steroids) kicked in but too late for the show."
It remains unclear what time Stewart was treated on Friday. His Saturday morning Instagram post made no reference to him having been unable to speak the night before because of his laryngitis, or even that he'd had laryngitis. Either way, his Saturday Instagram post did not seem especially well thought out.
Many of the comments on Instagram responding to his post cheered Stewart on and shared his enthusiasm over tonight's game. But several of the responses took him to task in the wake of Friday's canceled concert.
In an Instagram comment, @rhinorunsandwines wrote: "Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer? Also your story lighting is all wrong; it's dark on your photo from the venue but the cancellation was in full daylight…"
Another response, from @grampbearkimlee questioned the timing of Stewart's Saturday Instagram post, writing: "Why does he post this after disappointing 10-15K fans? … Almost seems to be intentional. Surely does not care that his fans were truly disappointed and just 45 minutes before start time last night. I guess only the King of England cancelling on him would be equivalent?"
Stewart's next scheduled concert is June 15, at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado. His "One Last Time" tour is set to conclude Aug. 15 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Unless, that is, he adds a subsequent San Diego make-up date.
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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM.