Penny Lancaster beams 'happy memories' as she shares upbeat update amid ongoing Rod Stewart health woes

The singer admitted he was "absolutely gutted" to announce he'd be cancelling a show in Vegas at the end of his residency due to strep.

And just a few days later, his Instagram account released a statement revealing a Covid diagnosis led to the postponement of another set of gigs in California and Nevada.

Stewart is billed to perform at the first of his rescheduled shows tomorrow (August 18) following his recovery - although an expert has warned he could end up doing longer-lasting damage if he rushes his stage return.

But that didn't stop him from reuniting with his sons and daughters for a family outing, something that was captured and shared on social media first by his daughter-in-law Nicola Artukovich Stewart.

In the update, Stewart can be seen crouching down alongside eldest son Sean while the rest of his brood and their partners pose behind him.

Lancaster joined the clan for the family update alongside her two children, Alastair and Aiden Patrick as she sported an eye-popping red dress.

Proving the evening was a success and all is well in the Stewart camp, Lancaster reposted the image from Artukovich Stewart's page with the caption: "Happy memories."

Lancaster will undoubtedly be there to support Stewart on the Sunday he returns to the stage - just eight days after announcing he'd been diagnosed with strep throat.

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A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)

Speaking exclusively to GB News, Dr Chun Tang, GP and Medical Director at Pall Mall Medical, delved into why a stage return so soon may not be the best idea for Stewart.

When asked how strep can affect a singer's voice, he said: "Strep throat directly affects a singer’s voice by causing significant inflammation and pain in the throat, which can extend to the vocal cords.

"This swelling makes it difficult to produce clear, strong sounds, leading to hoarseness, a reduced vocal range, and even a complete loss of voice in severe cases.

"The pain and redness can also make it uncomfortable to sing, potentially causing a singer to unconsciously adjust their technique in ways that could further strain their voice."

Dr Tang went on to explain that sufferers "need to rest your voice completely for at least a week" and that "even if you start feeling better sooner, I’d suggest continuing to rest your voice for an extra few days".

But with the 79-year-old plotting his stage return a little over a week after sharing his health news, Dr Tang had some words of warning.

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"Ignoring recovery and treatment advice can have a serious impact. If you keep singing with an inflamed voice you could be heading for chronic damage, such as the development of vocal nodules or scarring.

"These issues can permanently alter the quality, range, and strength of your voice," he explained.

"There’s also the possibility of recurring infections that weaken your vocal cords over time, and this will make it increasingly difficult to speak clearly, never mind sing.

"In the worst-case scenario, this could mean the end of a singing career or require surgery to correct the damage which can carry its own risks."