An Iowa State Fair headliner has canceled his Grandstand concert for medical reasons.
Rod Stewart, the legendary 81-year-old British rock and pop singer-songwriter known for his distinct raspy singing voice, energetic live shows and massive global sales of more than 120 million records, canceled his Aug. 14 show at the Iowa State Fair.
Iowa State Fair officials canceled the show on Tuesday, Aug. 11, after Stewart, the singer behind mega-hits like “Maggie May,” “You Wear It Well,” “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Forever Young,” reported medical issues.
During a June 2026 concert near Salt Lake City, Utah, Stewart briefly fainted from breathlessness due to high altitude and an upper respiratory infection, requiring a quick break to use an oxygen tank before finishing the show sitting down. He also had to postpone a Cincinnati concert this month due to a minor medical procedure.
“We are currently looking for a replacement act,” a state fair official said in a news release. Richard Marx was set to open the show.
Tickets for the Rod Stewart concert will be refunded to the original point of purchase, according to the news release.
Concert-goers who purchased tickets through the Iowa State Fair’s official ticket vendor, E-Tix, will be automatically issued a refund to their original method of payment. Tickets purchased with cash at the Iowa State Fair box office will be refunded in-person at the fair.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why did headliner Rod Stewart cancel his Iowa State Fair concert?
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
