Rod Stewart faced a health scare just days before his Glastonbury performance, revealing he has "never been so ill" after being hit by a severe case of influenza that led to the cancellation of his US tour dates.

The 80-year-old music icon struggled with his singing during rehearsals due to the illness. His wife of 18 years, Penny Lancaster, disclosed that despite his voice "not working", Rod was determined not to "let anyone down".

In an interview with Hello! magazine, Penny, 54, shared: "He had influenza A, which is the worst one you can get. It knocked him sideways, he's never been so ill in his entire life."

With a mere five days before his scheduled performance, Rod confided in Penny that he felt unable to go on stage. According to Penny, Rod sought medical attention at a London hospital where his voice box was examined.

To alleviate his symptoms, he resorted to various methods including hot and cold steaming. Penny explained: "He was worrying so much about the expectations and pressure, everyone relying on him and not wanting to let anyone down. I think it just got in his head."

Penny revealed that Rod was prescribed "voice rest" in preparation for his gig. She confessed to being "very, very strict" with him, insisting that he "visualise" the positive response he would receive from his performance.

Just forty-eight hours before his gig, Rod's wife Penny shared that he miraculously regained his voice, leaving the Maggie May crooner elated. With his vocal cords restored, Rod triumphantly delivered his performance, joined by a host of music greats including Lulu, Mick Hucknall of Simply Red, and his old Faces comrade Ronnie Wood.

His proud offspring Alastair, aged 19, and Aiden, 14, alongside their sisters Ruby, 38, and Renee, 33, with their families in tow, watched the show from stage-side, buzzing with anticipation. Penny remarked that the vibe behind the scenes was absolutely electric.

Following his acclaimed performance at Glastonbury, Sir Rod revealed he's been crafting fresh tunes with Rolling Stones legend Ronnie, who's 78, and Kenney Jones, the 76-year-old drummer. He confessed that his jam-packed diary is the reason why this promising album hasn't hit the shelves yet.

He said: "It's all down to me again. So I've got to get the lyrics finished."

He elaborated on his hectic schedule, saying: "I'm working so bloody hard. I've got two albums on the go, two documentaries. I'm just supposed to be doing a book about my model railway, which I've just dropped. I ain't got the time. But there is a documentary. We have been filming it for some time."

Rod also let slip that his record label is eager for another solo venture. He expressed, adding a nugget of insight: "My dear record company want me to make a country album."

He continued, revealing the weight of his workload: "There's so much in the pipeline but I've had to drop a few things. I'm just so busy, which thank the Lord I am."