Rod Stewart Speaks Out on the Truth About His Marriage to Penny Lancaster amid 'Rift' Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart.Photo:Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

Rod Stewartis setting the record straight on his marriage withPenny Lancaster.

After multiple outlets published stories containing claims of turmoil in the couple’s marriage, the 79-year-old rockershared a statementshutting down the “erroneous articles.”

“We wanted to put the record straight,” Stewart wrote via Instagram on Thursday, Aug. 29.

“There is absolutely no rift between Penny and I and no disagreement over where we should reside, in fact it’s the opposite,” he continued, before addressing a specific claim that the longtime couple — whowed in June 2007— is fighting about whether they should make a permanent move from Los Angeles to the United Kingdom.

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart in London in 1999.Richard Young/Shutterstock

Richard Young/Shutterstock

“We moved permanently back to our beloved Britain a year ago but are fortunate to also have homes in different countries, which we love to visit,” he wrote. “Originally we did think it made sense to sell our house in LA, but having spent a wonderful time there this summer with family and friends duringmy Vegas residencywe realised that it makes sense to keep our house there.”

Plus, Stewart noted, two of hiseight childrenstill live in the pair’s L.A. home.

Stewart and Lancaster, 53, first met in 1999 following the “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” singer’s separation from his ex-wifeRachel Hunter.

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart in Los Angeles in February 2002.Dave Hogan/Mission Pictures/Getty

Dave Hogan/Mission Pictures/Getty

Recallinghis meet-cute with the U.K.-born former modelin 2021, Stewart told PEOPLE, “Rachel broke up with me on a Monday evening, and it was heartbreaking. No one leaves Rod! But that Saturday night, I met Penny at the Dorchester Hotel in London.”

“The bass player in my band, Carmine, said, ‘Listen, you’ve just come out of a long nine-year marriage. You’re not ready yet.’ I nearly strangled him!” he continued with a laugh. “Six months later, he gave me her phone number and she came over.”

“She has mended my heart in more ways than one,” he added at the time.

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart in Los Angeles in January 2024.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

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The “erroneous” reports about Stewart and Lancaster’s marriage come about two months after the couplecelebrated their 17th wedding anniversary.

Stewart then raved about their time spent together, adding, “25 years together and no red flags.”

source: people.com