Rod Stewart’s Farewell Tour Kickoff Stuns Miami Fans

Two sold-out nights at Hard Rock Live proved something undeniable: Rod Stewart isn’t coasting on nostalgia — he’s commanding it.

The 81-year-old icon made it clear this is the One Last Time World Tour. He told the crowd he won’t be coming back. But nothing about the night felt sentimental or slow.

He hit the stage at 8:13 p.m., opening with “Infatuation” before sliding into “You Wear It Well.” From the jump, this wasn’t a legacy act going through the motions. Stewart was in constant motion — hips swinging, jacket flashing, strutting with elastic swagger and total command. At times, his loose-limbed strut echoed Mick Jagger’s elastic cool — but Stewart’s charm remains distinctly his own.

When “Maggie May” began with Stewart alone — just that unmistakable rasp filling the room — the crowd hushed. Once the band kicked in, Hard Rock Live turned into a choir, longtime fans belting every word like no time had passed since 1971.

That energy carried through the 22-song set. The baby boomers were out in force, but plenty of younger fans knew every word, too. The night felt less like nostalgia and more like a celebration. Stewart’s voice is rougher now, deeper and more weathered, yet it carries a lived-in warmth that suits him. He still pushed into the high notes during “Tonight’s the Night.”

Before “Young Turks,” he asked twice, “Are you enjoying yourselves?” Then he grinned: “Tonight is a big night for me — we’re being filmed for the Grammy show on CBS.” The crowd roared. He added that he loves Florida, and judging by the response, Florida still loves him back.

The production leaned theatrical without feeling bloated — glowing white screens, vintage TV visuals during “Every Picture Tells a Story,” a full backing ensemble, and dancers that kept the pace brisk and polished.

Visually, it was pure Rod. The band wore crisp white jackets with black shirts and polka-dot ties. Stewart changed outfits four times, including a black polka-dot jacket paired with striped stretch pants and black-and-white shoes. Nearly everyone onstage embraced the polka-dot theme — flamboyant, tailored, slightly cheeky, exactly as expected.

The most emotional moment came during “Forever Young.” A pipe band filled the screens in a nod to his Scottish roots, and his daughter Ruby joined him onstage. Later, his grandson Otis danced beside him under the lights. With three generations onstage, the song’s title stopped feeling symbolic and began to feel earned. It wasn’t staged sentimentality — it felt natural, joyful, and lived-in.

What made Stewart resonate in America in the early ’70s still applies now: he sounds human. Blue-collar grit wrapped around vulnerable ballads. Cocky one minute, sentimental the next. That balance built a career that has outlasted trends and kept a generation coming back.

If this truly is “One Last Time,” Stewart didn’t play it like a goodbye. If this is the end of the road, it wasn’t a farewell. It was Rod Stewart doing what Rod Stewart does best — owning the stage.

Rod Stewart’s “One Last Time” Hard Rock Live Setlist

1. “Infatuation”
2. “You Wear It Well”
3. “Ooh La La” (Faces cover)
4. “It’s a Heartache” (Bonnie Tyler cover)
5. “Roll and Tumble Blues” (Hambone Willie Newbern cover)
6. “Forever Young”
7. “The First Cut Is the Deepest” (Cat Stevens cover)
8. “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)”
9. “Every Picture Tells a Story”
10. “Ain’t Love a Bitch”
11. “Maggie May”
12. “I’d Rather Go Blind” (Etta James cover)
13. “Young Turks”
14. “Downtown Train” (Tom Waits cover)
15. “I’m Every Woman” (Chaka Khan cover)
16. “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” (Crazy Horse cover)
17. “People Get Ready” (The Impressions cover)
18. “Have I Told You Lately” (Van Morrison cover)
19. “Proud Mary” (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
20. “It Takes Two” (Kim Weston cover)
21. “Some Guys Have All the Luck” (The Persuaders cover)
22. “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”

Encore:

23. “Love Train” (The O’Jays cover)