Rod Stewart, 81, Postpones Cincinnati Show and Cancels Cleveland Concert After ‘Minor Medical Procedure’

Rod Stewart has been forced to step away from the stage temporarily after undergoing what was described as a “minor medical procedure.”

The 81-year-old rock legend was scheduled to perform at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati on Sunday, Aug. 9, as part of his ongoing One Last Time Tour, but the concert was postponed at the last minute.

According to a statement issued by the venue, Stewart required prompt medical attention before the show.

“Due to an unforeseen but minor medical procedure that required prompt attention, Rod Stewart’s performance tonight in Cincinnati at Riverbend Music Center has been POSTPONED,” the venue announced.

Officials said they were working to reschedule the concert and expected to release additional information on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Fans who had already purchased tickets were told they would remain valid for the new date.

The statement also offered reassurance about Stewart’s condition, saying he was expected to recover quickly and hoped to return to Cincinnati.

But the disruption to his tour did not end there.

Cleveland Concert Canceled After Doctors Recommend Rest

Stewart later canceled his scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 11 performance at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.

In a statement shared Monday evening, the venue said doctors had been monitoring the singer and advised him to take additional time off.

“Following a period of monitoring, doctors have advised Rod Stewart to rest for at least 48 hours,” Rocket Arena announced.

As a result, the Cleveland concert was canceled rather than postponed.

The venue said Stewart was disappointed to miss the performance but appreciated fans’ understanding and hoped to return to the stage soon.

Refunds were made available at the original point of purchase.

Representatives for Stewart had not responded to PEOPLE’s request for additional comment.

The latest cancellations come after several recent health-related disruptions during what has otherwise been an active touring period for the veteran performer.

Stewart Recently Paused Mid-Song During Hamptons Performance

On July 29, Stewart appeared at a charity event in the Hamptons benefiting TeachRock, the national education nonprofit founded by Steven Van Zandt.

During the performance, Stewart was singing his popular song “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” when his voice briefly failed him.

He had reached the lyric “You fill my heart with gladness” and was preparing to continue into the next line when his voice cracked.

Rather than allowing the moment to derail the performance, Stewart stopped and joked with the audience.

“Let’s do that again,” he said.

He then repeated the note, prompting enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

The charity event took place at the Southampton home of philanthropists Bob and Lauren Day Roberts.

While the incident appeared lighthearted, it followed a more serious period of vocal and respiratory trouble earlier in the summer.

June Tour Dates Were Affected by Respiratory and Vocal Problems

Before the Hamptons performance, Stewart had already canceled and postponed multiple concerts in June.

At that time, he had reportedly been diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and vocal fold strain.

Those conditions temporarily interfered with his ability to perform and led to changes in his touring schedule.

Stewart also has a prior history of thyroid cancer surgery, an important medical detail given that the thyroid is located near structures involved in speech and vocal function.

His recent vocal difficulties therefore drew additional attention from fans, particularly as he continued to maintain a demanding live schedule.

The June health issues were followed by an alarming moment during a concert on June 19.

Stewart Nearly Fainted During Utah Concert

During a performance at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City, Utah, Stewart appeared to become unwell on stage.

According to TMZ, the singer was seen bending over and appearing to experience significant discomfort before temporarily leaving the main performance area.

Backstage, staff brought him an oxygen tank to assist with his breathing.

Video obtained by the outlet showed Stewart leaning over before the oxygen equipment was brought to him.

He later returned and explained to the audience that he had nearly fainted.

Stewart kept the mood relatively light, making jokes as he addressed the crowd.

Despite the incident, he ultimately completed the concert while sitting in a chair.

At the time, his representatives did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment about what had caused the episode.

That moment became one of several health-related interruptions during a summer in which Stewart has continued trying to maintain his extensive touring commitments.

A Demanding Schedule at 81

Stewart remains one of the most enduring performers of his generation.

Known for hits including “Maggie May,” “Forever Young” and “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,” he has continued performing well into his 80s.

His current One Last Time Tour has been promoted as another major chapter in his decades-long live career rather than an immediate retirement from music.

Stewart has also made clear in previous interviews that he remains interested in creating and performing new music.

That enthusiasm has made his recent health setbacks particularly noticeable.

The Cincinnati postponement initially appeared to be a short-term interruption caused by a minor procedure.

However, the subsequent Cleveland cancellation showed that doctors wanted Stewart to give his body additional recovery time.

The decision to recommend at least 48 hours of rest suggests that his medical team is taking a cautious approach before allowing him to resume performing.

Recent Health Issues Put Focus on Recovery

The latest developments do not establish that Stewart is dealing with a serious new illness.

The Cincinnati venue specifically described the procedure as “minor” and said a quick recovery was expected.

Still, the sequence of events has naturally raised concern among longtime fans.

Within a relatively short period, Stewart has dealt with an acute respiratory infection, laryngitis, vocal fold strain, a near-fainting episode that required oxygen, a brief vocal problem during a charity performance and now an additional medical procedure requiring rest.

Each incident has been addressed individually, and there has been no announcement suggesting that they are all connected.

For now, the confirmed information is that Stewart’s Cincinnati concert has been postponed, while his Cleveland appearance has been canceled following medical advice.

Fans Await His Return to the Stage

Stewart has spent much of his career building a reputation as an energetic live performer, which makes any unexpected cancellation especially significant for audiences planning to see him.

The Cincinnati show is expected to receive a new date, with previously purchased tickets remaining valid.

Cleveland fans, meanwhile, are being offered refunds following the cancellation.

Stewart has not personally issued a detailed public statement about the medical procedure.

The statements released by the venues have emphasized that he is disappointed to miss the performances and intends to return to the stage when cleared to do so.

For now, his immediate priority appears to be rest.

After months marked by both packed concerts and several health interruptions, the 81-year-old rocker is taking a brief break from performing on doctors’ orders — with fans watching closely for the next update on when Rod Stewart will be ready to sing again.