Rod Stewart opens up on heartbreak with ex-wife Rachel that 'tore him to shreds'
Sir Rod Stewart has opened up about the heartbreak he endured following the end of his marriage to second wife Rachel Hunter.
The 80-year-old rock legend, who first tied the knot with Alana Hamilton in 1979, reflected on the painful split and how it shaped the next chapter of his life, both personally and professionally, Mirror reports.
Rod and Alana, the mother of his children Kimberly and Sean, divorced in 1984. Years later, he married New Zealand-born model Rachel Hunter, who was just 21 at the time, 26 years his junior. Rod was 45.
The couple went on to have two children together: daughter Renee and son Liam.
Despite their early whirlwind romance, the marriage didn't last. The couple separated in 1999, and their divorce was finalised in 2006.
Rod has now revealed how devastated he was by the split, admitting, 'Rachel left me because she was too young. My sister said I should never have married her in the first place, but it tore me to shreds.'
Interestingly, it was just a day after his separation from Rachel that Rod met his current wife, Penny Lancaster. Recalling their first meeting, he told The Times that she had asked for his autograph.
He then asked her if she liked dancing. 'She was an incredible dancer, gorgeous, [and wearing] 6ft 4in heels,' he said fondly, describing the moment with clear affection.
However, the rocker was advised not to rush into anything serious so soon. 'There were six months between Rachel and Penny because my bass player, who had Penny's number, wouldn't give it to me,' he revealed.
'He said, 'All you're going to do now is s**g around.' And he was right, I had a splendid time in those six months.'
Rod eventually reconnected with Penny, and the two tied the knot in 2007. They now share two sons, Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14.
Describing his wife of 18 years, Rod said she's 'got everything' he has ever wanted in a partner, and that their relationship has grown stronger with time.
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Their marriage remains strong, with Penny regularly supporting Rod at major events and appearances. Most recently, she was there by his side at Glastonbury as he performed the coveted legends slot on the Pyramid Stage.
Their sons were also there to cheer him on, along with Renee and Ruby, Rod's daughter from his relationship with model Kelly Emberg.
The couple also marked their 18th wedding anniversary with a lavish trip aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The journey retraced the romantic milestones of their relationship, from Rod's proposal in Paris, to their wedding in Portofino, and the honeymoon that followed aboard a luxury yacht along the Italian coast, celebrating a love that has endured.
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