Sir Rod Stewart is in fighting form as he gears up to say goodbye to life on the road. In a wide-ranging interview with The Sun, the 81-year-old rock legend opened up about his health, his fitness routine, his upcoming Final Encore tour, and the one indulgence his wife Penny Lancaster keeps telling him to rein in.

“Vocally, I’m better now than I’ve ever been”

The Final Encore will bring the curtain down on Rod’s touring career after more than six decades. Demand has been so strong that two extra dates have been added to the nearly sold-out UK leg, according to The Sun.

Rod admitted he can’t leap around the stage the way he did in his early thirties, but insisted his voice is in better shape than ever. He told the paper he protects it like “the crown jewels” and has become so wary of colds that he now wears white gloves when out in public, a trick he said he borrowed from Michael Jackson.

That scare in Utah

The singer also addressed the frightening moment earlier this year when he needed oxygen after nearly fainting during a show at a high-altitude amphitheatre in Utah, some 4,300ft above sea level.

Rod explained that he had been battling bronchitis at the time and didn’t realise how high up the venue was. He opened with three fast songs and suddenly struggled to breathe. He got through the show, and now paces his setlist more carefully at altitude.

He also shared that, a decade after his prostate cancer diagnosis, he remains all-clear, and urged men not to skip their health checks.

Training like an athlete

Rod credits his good health to plenty of sleep and a disciplined fitness regime. Before each show, he does about an hour of stretching, cycling, massage and vocal warm-ups. At home, he cycles three times a week, including plenty of uphill work, and swims a lot. He said Frank Sinatra once advised him to practise underwater swimming to build up his lung capacity for singing.

Unlike his hard-partying days with the Faces, he now goes on stage completely sober, saving a rum and Coke for a few songs in.

The habit Penny wants him to curb

Rod was candid about his love of a glass of wine with dinner. “I wish I could curb my drinking,” he admitted, explaining that he has a great chef and can’t bring himself to drink water with a good meal.

According to Rod, Penny regularly tells him, “You must cut back, darling.” He insisted he usually sticks to a couple of glasses, though he confessed he can “really knock back” apple martinis on occasion.

What comes next

The UK leg of The Final Encore kicks off in Glasgow on April 29 at the OVO Hydro. Rod said he turned down a one-off farewell at Celtic Park because he preferred to play three nights and really savour the experience.

Once his touring days are done, Rod hopes to stage smaller, residency-style shows, possibly with Jools Holland, with whom he made the 2024 No1 album Swing Fever, or with his own big band. He mentioned the London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall as dream venues.

Fans can also look forward to a documentary early next year featuring a sit-down with his old friend and rival Sir Elton John. Rod also revealed plans to open his huge model railway, with a 275-metre track, to the public to raise money for charity.

“It’s been the best life and I am so grateful,” he told The Sun.

Source: The Sun, from an interview with Sir Rod Stewart.