For decades, Rod Stewart’s love life made headlines as much as his music did. Now, the legendary rocker has opened up about the one relationship he still looks back on with deep regret, and his confession surprised even his most devoted fans. Born in North London in 1945, Stewart grew up as the youngest of five children in a household devoted to soccer and music. He left school at 15 to pursue a football career, but after a disappointing tryout with Brentford FC, that dream ended.
Music became his focus, though success arrived slowly. Before fame, Stewart worked as a newspaper delivery boy, trained as an electrician, and even labored around cemeteries. At 16, he joined a band called the Raiders, but a humiliating audition with producer Joe Meek nearly ended his ambitions. Stewart kept going, busking on the streets of London and absorbing the city’s music scene.
In 1962, he met artist Susannah Baffey at just 17 years old. Their relationship moved quickly, and when Baffey became pregnant, Stewart walked away, choosing his career over fatherhood. The child was placed for adoption. Decades later, this would become one of the most painful chapters of his life.
His persistence eventually paid off. A chance encounter with musician Long John Baldry led to a band invitation, followed by stints with the Jeff Beck Group and Faces. By the 1970s, Stewart was an international superstar with hits like “Sailing,” “Tonight’s the Night,” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? ”
Alongside the music came a reputation as one of rock’s most notorious womanizers.
He had romances with actresses, models, and socialites. One notable relationship was with Britt Ekland, which inspired “Tonight’s the Night” and helped launch him into American superstardom. That relationship ended amid reports of infidelity. He later married model Alana Collins, and the couple had two children.
For a moment, it appeared he had settled down. The marriage collapsed after Stewart began a relationship with model Kelly Emberg. Stewart later admitted he never handled endings well. In the late 1980s, Stewart met New Zealand model Rachel Hunter, who was more than 20 years younger than him.
Just three months after meeting, they married. The couple welcomed daughter Renee and son Liam, and Stewart insists he never cheated on Hunter during their marriage. Despite that commitment, the marriage ended in 1999 when Hunter left. According to Stewart, she wanted a quieter life away from the spotlight.
Her departure devastated him. He has openly said that losing Hunter broke his heart. Shortly after, photographer and model Penny Lancaster entered his life. Friends worried he was rushing into another serious relationship, but this time things lasted.
The couple welcomed children and married in 2007. In 2007, the past returned when a young woman arrived at a studio claiming to be his daughter. Stewart initially assumed it was a mistake, but the resemblance was undeniable. She was Sarah Streeter, the daughter he had fathered with Susannah Baffey decades earlier.
After learning the truth about her biological father, Sarah reached out, and the two eventually built a relationship and she became part of the family. That reunion forced Stewart to confront the painful decisions of his youth. It also led him to reflect on his past relationships with fresh honesty. In a recent interview, he admitted that the end of his marriage to Rachel Hunter remains one of the most painful chapters of his life.
He believes the age difference played a major role in the breakup. Hunter was only 21 when they married, while Stewart was 45, and family members had expressed concerns even then. Hunter herself later acknowledged her youth contributed to their struggles. Among all the relationships and mistakes in his life, Hunter left the deepest mark.
His comments revealed a rare sense of regret, not over fame or success, but over losing someone he truly loved. Today, Stewart appears content. His marriage to Penny Lancaster is strong, his family has grown, and his music career continues.
Yet his story remains a reminder that fame cannot shield anyone from heartbreak, and some relationships stay with a person forever.
