Rod Stewart announces 2027 "Final Encore Tour" as his last rock and roll tour
Rod Stewart, 81, said next year's Final Encore Tour will be his last, weeks after a coronary stent procedure. Fox News and the Daily Mail cover it; they differ on whether it amounts to retirement.
Updated (version 2). Rewritten with the latest reporting. Previously: “Rod Stewart announces 2027 "Final Encore Tour" as his last”.
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The story, neutrally told
Rod Stewart announced on Monday 28 September that next year's "Final Encore Tour" will be his last tour. Fox NewsR “The rock legend announced "The Final Encore Tour" Monday, revealing that next year will mark his last-ever tour” Read at Fox News ↗ Daily MailR “said his The Final Encore dates next year will ‘definitely be my last’” Read at Daily Mail ↗ In an Instagram video he spoke of "much deliberation and sadness" and said it would be "the last rock and roll tour". Fox NewsR “"Ladies and gentlemen, after much deliberation and sadness, I have to announce next year will be my last tour ever, ever, ever,"” Read at Fox News ↗ Daily MailR “This will be the last rock and roll tour.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Fox News quotes him saying "I'm not retiring", while the Daily Mail headlines and reports the news as a retirement from the stage. Fox NewsR “"I’m not retiring, but this will be the last rock and roll tour," he clarified.” Read at Fox News ↗ Daily MailR “Rod Stewart has announced he is retiring from the stage after six decades with one last tour” Read at Daily Mail ↗
The Daily Mail says the 21-date European tour opens in Dublin on 23 April and ends in Hannover, Germany, on 24 July, with UK dates in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London and Howard Jones as support. Daily MailR “The 21-date European tour will kick off in Dublin on April 23 next year and finish in Hannover, Germany, on July 24.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Fanclub presale tickets are on sale, with general release on 2 October, according to the Daily Mail. Daily MailR “Tickets are now available on the Fanclub presale and general release will be on October 2.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The announcement follows a coronary stent procedure in August that led him to cancel the remaining dates of his "One Last Time Tour". Fox NewsR “In August, Stewart canceled the remaining dates of his "One Last Time Tour" after undergoing a coronary stent procedure.” Read at Fox News ↗ Daily MailR “Sir Rod was forced to cut short his One Last Time farewell tour in the US earlier this year because of the operation.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
His team said at the time that doctors were pleased with his recovery, and his wife, Penny Lancaster, said he would "come back stronger than ever". Fox NewsR “"Doctors are pleased with his recovery, and Rod is doing very well and has returned to his normal daily activities,"” Read at Fox News ↗ Daily MailR “said he would ‘come back stronger than ever’” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Both outlets note earlier cancellations this year for respiratory illness; Fox also lists earlier bouts of strep throat, COVID-19 and flu, and reports fans saying they were "heartbroken". Fox NewsR “He has canceled shows after battling strep throat, COVID-19 and the flu.” Read at Fox News ↗ Daily MailR “pulled out of a number of concerts in June after suffering from an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and vocal strain” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both right-leaning outlets present a farewell story tied to Stewart's health. Fox leads on the health scares and fan reaction; the Daily Mail leads on retirement and farewell, adding tour dates and career detail.
- Emphasis
- Fox: health history, fan comments, Penny Lancaster's podcast remarks on his routine. Daily Mail: tour dates, support act, ticket timings, chart record, farewell statements.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Fox gives no tour dates, venues or ticket details. The Daily Mail omits Stewart's "I'm not retiring" clarification. Neither outlet has a left or centre counterpart to compare with.
- Charged language
- “rock legend”“heartbroken”“retirement from the stage”
- For example
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“Rod Stewart is ready for one final encore.” — Fox News
“the time has come to say farewell to life on the road” — Daily Mail
“fans said they were "heartbroken"” — Fox News
What every side reports
- Stewart said the 2027 tour will be his last rock and roll tour.
- He had a coronary stent procedure in August 2026 and cancelled remaining One Last Time Tour dates.
- The announcement was made on Instagram with a video message.
- He also cancelled shows earlier in 2026 because of respiratory illness.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the announcement is a retirement
- Right
- Fox News quotes Stewart saying "I'm not retiring"; the Daily Mail headlines it as his retirement from the stage and quotes his "time to say farewell to life on the road".
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Name of the tour in the Instagram caption
- Right
- Fox quotes the caption as promoting "The Final Encore Tour"; the Daily Mail quotes the same caption as "One Last Time Tour".
Rod Stewart person
Stewart frames it as a last rock and roll tour made with sadness, while saying he is not retiring; he thanks fans and promotes tickets.
“"I’m not retiring, but this will be the last rock and roll tour," he clarified.” — Fox News
“After more than six decades, The Final Encore will most definitely be my last.” — Daily Mail
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Rod Stewart confirms final tour after heart procedure and health scares
Sympathetic Fan-focused announcement story linking the final tour to heart procedure and earlier illnesses, with his wife's account of his recovery.
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Neutral Reports it as a retirement from the stage after six decades, with tour logistics and career highlights.
- 28 Sep 17:28 First Fox NewsR Rod Stewart confirms final tour after heart procedure and health scares
- 29 Sep 07:09 +13h 41m Daily MailR Rod Stewart, 81, announces his retirement from the stage after six decades... and says 'it's time to say farewell' as he confirms dates for 'final tour ever'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.