Sir Roderick David Stewart, more widely known as Rod Stewart, is a British pop and rock singer and songwriter. He was born on January 10, 1945, at Highgate, North London, to Robert Joseph Stewart and Elsie Rebecca Gilbart. He mainly worked odd jobs and hopped all over Europe until he got a part-time job as a vocalist and harmonica player in 1963. Jimmy Powell soon hired Stewart and the band and performed at the famed Studio 51 club, where Stewart got his start in the thriving London R&B scene.
Stewart soon split with the band and began making a name for himself. He eventually worked himself up to be one of the most famous and influential figures in the British music industry. His 1971 album, “Every Picture Tells a Story,” was his third release and, consequently, his breakthrough album. It topped the charts in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. He released “Never a Dull Moment” the following year, and it reached the top spot in the UK and Australia.
Using his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart quickly became one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He sold more than 120 million records worldwide. He has had 31 top-ten singles in the United Kingdom, with six reaching number one. He’s also had 10 number-one albums. He also accumulated 16 top-ten hits in the United States, with four reaching the number-one spot. He was knighted in 2016 for services to music and charity. Billboard magazine ranked him the 17th most successful artist in 2008. He received a Grammy and was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Many people were open to non-conventional relationships thanks to the culture in the 60s and 70s. Stewart was a prominent figure in pop culture at the time. With pop culture icons coming out with their true sexuality, many of his contemporaries and fans asked, “Is Rod Stewart gay?” Let’s answer that question by examining the rock icon’s personal life.
VOTE: What is Rod Stewart’s Sexuality?
Rod Stewart’s Dating History
Stewart has lived a colorful life, from selling newspapers in their family shop to being deported from Spain for misdemeanors. His past relationships are just as extensive and nuanced. Stewart has had relationships with a Bond girl and has had eight children by five different women.
Rod Stewart and Suzannah Boffey (1960s)
Suzannah Boffey and Stewart were teenage sweethearts. Their relationship ended abruptly when Stewart became pregnant with Boffey’s child. The child was put up for adoption as the couple was too young. In his 2013 song, Stewart alluded to Boffey leaving him, but Boffey claims that it was Stewart who left her when he found out she was pregnant. Stewart’s career was only beginning; according to Boffey, a baby was the last thing he wanted.
Rod Stewart and Dee Harrington (1971-1975)
Referred to by many as a ‘blonde bombshell,’ model Dee Harrington began dating Stewart after the pair met at a party in Los Angeles in 1971. Harrington was present as Stewart transitioned from being part of a band to finding his solo sound. Stewart and Harrington became engaged, and Harington narrowly missed being Stewart’s first wife. In a 2005 interview, Harrington jokes, imagining the outcome if she had married Stewart. She would be “spending [her] Christmases with him and his other ex-wives.”
Rod Stewart and Britt Ekland (1975-1977)
Britt Erkland met Stewart in 1975 through actress Joan Collins. The Bond girl reportedly gave up her career to focus on their relationship. Ekland and Stewart’s relationship was highly publicized and is considered one of the most photographed in the 70s. “Tonight’s the Night,” Stewart’s 1977 pop hit, was reportedly inspired by Ekland. The couple eventually split when Ekland found out about Stewart’s infidelity. The rock singer had been having an affair with Alana Hamilton, Ekland’s ex’s current wife.
Rod Stewart and Alana Hamilton (1979-1984)
Alana Hamilton became Stewart’s first wife in 1979 and gave birth to their first child, Kimberly, and later, a son named Sean. Their marriage lasted five years before Stewart was yet again caught having another affair, this time with Kelly Emberg.
Rod Stewart and Kelly Emberg (1984-1990)
Stewart ended up having one of his longest relationships with Kelly Emberg. The couple ended up having a son before splitting up in 1990. Emberg later remarked that she always knew they wouldn’t last early on. She says Stewart felt the same thing going into the relationship. Stewart’s constant infidelity and absence led to the eventual split.
Rod Stewart and Rachel Hunter (1990-1999)
Stewart snagged up another young, beautiful blonde woman in the form of New Zealand model Rachel Hunter. Stewart was still with Emberg when he met Hunter. The young model, 24 years younger than Stewart, was hooked on the rockstar. Their fiery romance resulted in a wedding proposal only three months after meeting. Hunter became Stewart’s second wife and gave birth to two children. After nine years of marriage, Hunter left Stewart.
In the nine years were together, I’d never done anything for myself. If you’d asked me then what I liked or didn’t like, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. I didn’t even have a hobby. I was nothing. I can remember thinking: ‘Here I am, approaching 30’ and ‘Oh, s–t, what am I doing with my life? I knew very definitely in that instant that I didn’t want to get to that age and have any regrets about what I’ve done or not done. It gave me the impetus to move on,”
Rachel Hunter, The Mirror interview, 2001
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster-Stewart (1999-Present)
Penny Lancaster met Stewart as a photographer who followed the rockstar on tour. Lancaster made the first move, but Stewart was still heartbroken over Hunter. But after a few months, Stewart gave in, and a seven-year courtship followed. The pair were married in 2007, with Lancaster giving birth to two more children. After a brief split, the couple renewed their vows in time for their 10th wedding anniversary in 2017. They are still together and have been married for 24 years.
Is Rod Stewart Gay?
No, Rod Stewart is not gay. Though he hasn’t made any statements specifically addressing his sexuality, there are little to no rumors to suggest otherwise. Stewart has an extensive list of women as his exes. There are currently no homosexual relations or allegations linked to Stewart. It’s safe to assume that the rock icon is heterosexual.
Featured Image: “Rod Stewart”, by Warner Bros. Records, licensed under PDM 1.0 DEED