Rod Stewart has a bit of a reputation. You know the one. He’s the legendary raspy-voiced rocker who famously quipped that instead of getting married again, he’d just find a woman he didn't like and give her a house. It’s a funny line, honestly. But it’s also a total lie if you look at how the man actually lives his life. The truth is, the wives of Rod Stewart haven't just been "plus-ones" in his rockstar narrative; they have been the literal anchors for a guy who, by his own admission, absolutely hates being alone. He’s a serial monogamist masquerading as a playboy.
Most people think his dating history is just a blur of blonde hair and leggy models. While the blonde part is mostly true, the "blur" part isn't. Rod stays in these relationships for years, sometimes decades. He’s been married three times, but he’s had several long-term partners who defined huge eras of his career. From the early days of "Maggie May" to his current status as a knighted elder statesman of pop, the women in his life have been the ones holding the map.
Alana Stewart: The Beginning of the "Wife" Era
Before Alana, there was Britt Ekland and Dee Harrington, but Alana Hamilton was the one who actually got him to the altar first. They married in 1979. At the time, Rod was the biggest star on the planet. He was coming off the massive success of "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and was living the peak 70s rockstar lifestyle. Alana was a model and an actress, previously married to George Hamilton.
Their marriage lasted about five years, ending in 1984. They had two kids, Kimberly and Sean. People often overlook Alana because the 80s were such a chaotic time for Rod, but she was there during his transition from a British folk-rocker to a global pop phenomenon. It wasn't an easy marriage. Rod has been open about his own infidelities during this time, admitting in his autobiography, Rod: The Autobiography, that he simply wasn't ready to be a "good boy" yet. He was still chasing the high of the road.
The Aftermath of the First Divorce
When Alana and Rod split, it set a template. Rod doesn't do "messy" public feuds. He’s remarkably good at staying friends with his exes. You’ll often see photos of him at parties surrounded by all his former partners and all eight of his children. It’s a weird, modern, slightly chaotic family dynamic that actually seems to work. Alana eventually went on to have a successful career in talk shows and reality TV, but she remains a permanent fixture in the Stewart family tree.
Rachel Hunter: The One Who Broke His Heart
If you want to talk about the wives of Rod Stewart in terms of emotional impact, you have to talk about Rachel Hunter. This was the big one. In 1990, Rod married the New Zealand supermodel when she was just 21 and he was 45. The age gap raised eyebrows, sure, but for a while, they were the "It" couple of the 90s.
Rachel was different. She wasn't just a fan or a groupie; she was a global star in her own right. They had two children, Renee and Liam. For nearly a decade, it looked like Rod had finally settled down for good. He was domestic. He was playing soccer in the backyard. He was, dare we say, predictable.
Then, in 1999, Rachel left him.
Rod was absolutely devastated. He famously said that he felt like he couldn't breathe. He lost weight. He leaned on his friends. It’s the one time in his public life where the "cool rockstar" veneer completely shattered. He realized that being a legend didn't protect you from a broken heart. It took years for that divorce to be finalized (2006), mostly because Rod held out hope, but also because of the complexities of their shared assets. Rachel taught Rod that you can't take a partner for granted, even if you are Rod Stewart.
Penny Lancaster: The Final Port in the Storm
Then came Penny. Most people saw the photos of them together in the early 2000s and thought, "Oh, here we go again. Another blonde model." But Penny Lancaster was different. She was a photographer when they met—she actually asked to take his picture at a concert.
They married in 2007 in Portofino, Italy. It was a lavish, beautiful affair that signaled a new chapter. Penny isn't just a wife; she’s basically the COO of the Stewart household. She’s the one who organized the "blended family" meetings. She’s the one who made sure Rod stayed connected to his older kids.
Penny eventually joined the British police force as a special constable. Think about that for a second. One of the most famous women in the UK, married to a billionaire rockstar, is out on the streets of London in a uniform, making arrests and keeping the peace. It says a lot about her character and why she’s the one who finally "tamed" him. They have two sons, Alastair and Aiden, and they seem genuinely, boringly happy. And for Rod, "boringly happy" is a massive achievement.
The Women Who Weren't Wives (But Mattered)
You can't really understand the wives of Rod Stewart without looking at the women he didn't marry but spent years with.
- Britt Ekland: The Swedish actress was his partner in the mid-70s. She’s credited with helping him find his "look"—the satin suits, the scarves, the high-fashion glam. She even sued him for $12.5 million after they broke up, which was a huge scandal at the time.
- Kelly Emberg: She was with Rod for seven years in the 80s and is the mother of his daughter Ruby. Kelly was a top model, and their relationship filled the gap between Alana and Rachel. Again, they remain close today.
- Susannah Boffey: This goes way back to the early 60s. Susannah is the mother of Rod’s first child, Sarah Streeter, who was given up for adoption. This is a deeply personal part of Rod’s history that he didn't publicly discuss for decades until they finally reunited later in life.
Why the "Rod Stewart Family" Model Actually Works
It’s easy to judge the multiple marriages. But honestly, if you look at the kids, they all seem to get along. Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee, Liam, Alastair, and Aiden—plus Sarah—all show up for each other. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the wives of Rod Stewart and his long-term partners decided to put the children ahead of their own grievances.
Rod provides the lifestyle, but the women provided the stability. He’s admitted he was a "late bloomer" when it came to emotional maturity. He needed to be older, and perhaps a bit more tired, to appreciate what Penny brought to the table.
The Financial Reality of Three Divorces
People always ask about the money. Did he lose it all? No. Rod is famously "careful" with his money (many of his bandmates have called him "tight"). While his divorces were expensive, his career has been so long and so lucrative—especially with the Great American Songbook series and his Las Vegas residencies—that he’s still one of the wealthiest musicians in the UK. He managed his splits with enough grace (and good lawyers) that they didn't ruin him.
Lessons from the Rod Stewart Playbook
What can we actually learn from this? If you’re looking for relationship advice from a guy who’s been through the ringer, here are the takeaways:
- Don't burn bridges. Rod’s ability to remain friends with Alana, Kelly, and Rachel is his greatest superpower. It makes life easier for the kids and keeps the drama at a simmer rather than a boil.
- Wait until you're ready. Rod has said he shouldn't have married Alana so young. He wasn't done being a "rockstar." If you aren't ready to be faithful and present, marriage is just a legal headache waiting to happen.
- Find a partner who has their own life. Part of why his marriage to Penny works is that she has her own career, her own interests (like the police force), and doesn't revolve her entire existence around his fame.
- Family is a wide net. Being a father to eight kids by five different women is a logistical nightmare, but Rod treats it like a big, noisy, beautiful club. Inclusion is better than exclusion.
What’s Next for the Stewart Clan?
As Rod enters his 80s, his focus has shifted entirely. He’s still touring, still wearing the leopard print, and still kicking soccer balls into the crowd. But when the lights go down, he’s going home to Penny. The era of the wives of Rod Stewart being a tabloid fixture is mostly over, replaced by a legacy of a man who finally figured out that having one person who truly knows you is better than having a thousand people who just know your name.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into this era of rock history, you should really read his autobiography. It’s surprisingly self-deprecating. He doesn't paint himself as a hero. He paints himself as a guy who loved women, loved music, and occasionally got those two things mixed up in the wrong order.
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Actionable Insights for the Curious:
- Check out the photography: Penny Lancaster is a legitimately talented photographer. Look up her early work to see the perspective she had on Rod before they became a couple.
- Listen to the transitions: Listen to "Tonight's the Night" (Britt Ekland era) vs. "Rhythm of My Heart" (Rachel Hunter era) to hear how his personal life influenced his sound.
- Watch the family dynamics: Follow his daughter Ruby or Kimberly on social media; they often post "all-family" dinners that show just how well these ex-wives actually get along. It’s a masterclass in co-parenting.