Rod Stewart, 80, delivers hidden tribute to wife Penny Lancaster with sweet Glastonbury set gesture
Sir Rod Stewart delivered a heartfelt moment during his Glastonbury Legends slot on Sunday, subtly acknowledging his wife Penny Lancaster while performing “The First Cut Is The Deepest”.
The 80-year-old rock icon pointed offstage and flashed a knowing smile as he sang the poignant lyric “I still want you by my side” during the Cat Stevens classic, which Stewart originally recorded in 1976.
The tender gesture towards his wife of 18 years didn’t go unnoticed by attentive festival-goers at the Pyramid Stage.
The touching tribute came early in Stewart’s nearly 90-minute performance in sweltering conditions at Worthy Farm.
Stewart’s extensive set featured an impressive lineup of musical collaborators.
Fellow icons Mick Hucknall, Ronnie Wood and Lulu joined him onstage during the performance, delighting the packed crowd.
The veteran performer also paid tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, who died in November 2022, by projecting her image on the big screen whilst performing one of her songs.
Stewart worked through his extensive back catalogue alongside classics from other artists during the show.
The performance showcased his enduring stage presence as he entertained the massive audience assembled at the Pyramid Stage throughout the afternoon.
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The performance wasn’t without its hiccups. Stewart mistakenly announced Lulu’s arrival while introducing Ronnie Wood, only for the guitarist to appear alone onstage.
“Oh Lulu is coming on in a bit,” Stewart quickly clarified, as Wood grabbed his guitar and began playing. Lulu eventually joined them to perform “Hot Legs” in a white suit.
Another timing issue occurred during “Maggie May”, with Stewart appearing to come in too early. Despite this, the song prompted the biggest singalong of the set from the enthusiastic crowd.
The minor mishaps didn’t dampen the overall reception, with one social media user posting: “Like him or not. Rod Stewart has still got it!! He’s a showman, great entertainer, and can work a crowd.”
Earlier in the day, Lancaster had been spotted posing with Stewart fans who wore wigs to emulate the rock legend’s distinctive hairstyle.
The 54-year-old former Loose Women panellist happily took photographs with the group.
Stewart himself underwent multiple outfit changes during the performance to cope with the intense heat.
He began in a white shirt and black jacket before switching to a bright pink suit.
The performer concluded his set wearing an emerald green ensemble, a colour choice that reflected his well-known support for Celtic Football Club.