Rod Stewart briefly stopped his Utah concert after feeling unwell and needing oxygen onstage. The veteran singer recovered moments later and reassured fans before continuing the show. While the exact cause remains unclear, the 81-year-old performer was able to finish the concert after receiving assistance.
Rod Stewart uses oxygen tank onstage after nearly fainting
Rod Stewart experienced a frightening moment during his concert Friday night at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in West Valley City, near Salt Lake City. According to TMZ, video footage shared online showed the legendary singer appearing unsteady while performing. He could be seen holding onto nearby objects for support before signaling for help from members of his crew.
A staff member later brought an oxygen tank onto the stage and placed a mask over Stewart’s nose and mouth. Fans in attendance responded with applause and cheers as the singer took several breaths from the tank. After recovering, Stewart addressed the crowd, saying, “The show must go on.”
The reason behind the episode has not been confirmed. However, many concertgoers pointed to the area’s elevation as a possible factor. West Valley City sits roughly 4,300 feet above sea level, and some attendees speculated that the altitude may have affected the performer. Stewart eventually completed the remainder of the show while seated in a chair.
The health scare comes not long after Stewart dealt with another setback. TMZ reported that he recently canceled a concert in San Diego because of laryngitis. Despite those challenges, the singer continues his One Last Time U.S. tour, with his next scheduled performance set for July 31 at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York (via NBC).
Stewart is still one of the most iconic voices in rock music. Over a career that’s lasted more than 60 years, he’s given fans classics like Maggie May, Forever Young, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? and Tonight’s the Night. Even his recent onstage recovery just shows the same grit that’s kept him going strong and performing into his 80s.
