Rod Stewart briefly stopped his performance at a Hamptons charity event after his voice cracked on a note, but he immediately turned the moment into part of the show.
The 81-year-old singer was performing “Have I Told You Lately” on July 29 when he struggled with the word “my.” According to People’s account of the performance, Stewart paused, looked momentarily concerned and told the audience, “Let’s do that again.”
He repeated the note successfully and received thunderous applause, transforming a brief vocal problem into one of the evening’s most memorable exchanges.
The benefit followed several health-related disruptions to Stewart’s touring schedule.
Stewart Refused to Let the Note Disrupt the Performance
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The interruption occurred during the second line of the song, when Stewart’s voice briefly cracked as he attempted to sing “my.” Rather than continue as though nothing had happened, he stopped the performance and openly acknowledged the missed note.
“Let’s do that again,” Stewart said before repeating the word at the pitch he wanted. The audience responded enthusiastically, and Stewart continued the song without another interruption.
He Delivered a 90-Minute Set After Recent Voice Problems
He canceled a California concert in June after being diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection that resulted in laryngitis. Additional performances were postponed while he rested his voice following concerns that also included vocal fold strain.
Despite those setbacks, Page Six reported that Stewart performed for approximately 90 minutes and moved energetically around the stage.
His set included “The First Cut Is the Deepest,” “Forever Young” and “Have I Told You Lately.” Attendees told the outlet that he appeared healthy and sounded strong throughout the concert. Stewart reportedly performed at the benefit without charging a fee.
Steven Van Zandt Joined Him Onstage
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The private event was held at the Southampton home of philanthropists Bob and Lauren Day Roberts. It benefited TeachRock, the national education nonprofit founded by musician and actor Steven Van Zandt.
Van Zandt joined Stewart for performances of “Having a Party” and “Stay With Me,” which Stewart originally recorded as a member of Faces. “Playing alongside the legend that is Stevie Van Zandt for TeachRock, what a night,” Stewart said in a statement.
He explained that music gave him direction when he was young and praised TeachRock for attempting to bring that same inspiration into classrooms. “Music changed my life, and TeachRock is making sure it can change theirs too,” Stewart said.
The Evening Raised $1.7 Million for Music Education
The event raised $1.7 million through donations and auctions benefiting TeachRock’s educational programs. Experiences offered to guests included dinner with Van Zandt and members of The Sopranos cast in New York’s Little Italy, an intimate dinner with Stewart and his wife, Penny Lancaster, and dinner followed by a private concert at Andrea Bocelli’s villa in Tuscany.
TeachRock provides educators with free, standards-aligned materials that use popular music to support subjects including history, English, civics, social studies and science. Van Zandt said Stewart’s participation gave the organization’s mission a substantial boost. “Every dollar raised helps us put free arts education into more classrooms,” he said, “and that’s something worth celebrating.”