Rod Stewart Pauses Hamptons Charity Performance to Correct Off-Key Note: “Let’s Try That Again”
By Website Content Manager
While performing “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” at a Hamptons charity fundraiser benefiting the nonprofit TeachRock, Rod Stewart briefly stopped after hitting an off-key note, then calmly restarted the moment and handled the vocal slip with professionalism.
Rod Stewart decided to give one lyric another try after briefly stumbling over a note during a live performance at a Hamptons charity event on July 29, which PEOPLE attended.
The 81-year-old music icon was performing his 1991 hit “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” from the Vagabond Heart album when his voice cracked while singing the opening verse. After delivering the line, “You fill my heart with gladness,” he struggled to hit the next lyric and paused with a playful expression before telling the audience, “Let’s do that again.”
Stewart then repeated the missed word, this time delivering it successfully as the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause, turning the brief vocal mishap into a lighthearted moment.
The performance came after the singer experienced several health-related setbacks. Stewart, who previously underwent surgery for thyroid cancer, was forced to cancel and postpone a number of concerts last month after being diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis, and vocal fold strain.
The special event took place at the Southampton residence of philanthropists Bob and Lauren Day Roberts in support of TeachRock, the nonprofit educational organization founded by Steven Van Zandt. During the evening, Stewart teamed up with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician and The Sopranos actor for performances of “Having a Party” and “Stay with Me,” the classic song Stewart originally recorded with the Faces.
Produced by Nick King, CEO of BlueDog Group, and curated by producer and creative director Mark Aldridge, the fundraiser generated approximately $1.7 million for TeachRock. The organization provides free, music-centered educational resources aligned with school standards to classrooms across the United States.
Guests contributed through a live auction featuring exclusive experiences, including a private dinner with Steven Van Zandt and members of The Sopranos cast in New York City’s Little Italy, an intimate meal with Rod Stewart and his wife, Penny Lancaster, and a visit to Andrea Bocelli’s private villa in Tuscany, complete with a personal concert.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Van Zandt said he created TeachRock with the goal of bringing together artists who believe music should play an essential role in education. He praised Stewart for supporting the cause, saying the singer’s performance not only entertained guests but also helped strengthen the nonprofit’s mission. Van Zandt added that every contribution made during the event will help expand free arts education opportunities for students and teachers nationwide.