Rod Stewart Celebrates 200th Vegas Show at 80, Toasting to Whisky and the Joy of Never Growing Old!

Rod Stewart simply cannot leave Las Vegas!

On Wednesday, March 12, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, 80, commenced his limited series “The Encore Shows” residency at Caesars Palace, featuring a blend of major hits, audience favorites, and tracks he adores.

During the 100-minute performance, Stewart, 80, soulfully sang classics like “Forever Young,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Tonight’s the Night,” while also including some lesser-known gems like 1971’s “Mandolin Wind,” incorporating various swing numbers and delivering an array of covers, including songs by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Cat Stevens, and John Fogerty.

“I’m a tad anxious,” Stewart confessed at the start of the show, but 15 minutes later light-heartedly remarked, “Now I know what I’m doing.”

Naturally, performing is familiar territory for Stewart, who launched his solo career in 1969. He also acknowledged that two of his most notable songs — which he performed — share a resemblance, which is intentional.

“’You Wear It Well’ and ‘Maggie May’ are indeed quite similar, and there’s a rationale behind that,” he explained. “After ‘Maggie May,’ the record label requested, ‘Can you create a No. 1 like ‘Maggie May?’ So I crafted ‘Wear It Well,’ but people adore it. You loved it. I loved it.”

In a somewhat evening-themed tribute, Stewart also paid homage to his inspirations.

“Growing up, which I’m still in the process of doing, I always listened to the 60s,” he mentioned before honoring Muddy Waters with a rendition of “Rollin’ and Tumblin.’”

The experience felt reminiscent of a karaoke night with Rod Stewart — some songs belonged to him, others didn’t. The audience, who remained on their feet for a significant portion of the evening, cared not at all.

For the rock legend, performing in Vegas is a regular occurrence, as Wednesday marked the 200th time he has graced the stage at Caesars Palace. Stewart initiated his “The Hits” residency in 2011, which will conclude in August 2024. Following his 199th performance last August, Stewart declared that he would embark on a shorter 12-show residency, dubbed “The Encore Shows,” ending on June 8. As anticipated, there were resemblances between the shows, such as a tribute to his cherished Celtic Football Club in Glasgow. Previously, Stewart would kick signed soccer balls into the audience, but now he gently tosses them into the masses.

In summary, Rod depended on his signature raspy voice, his remarkable 19-member orchestra (14 of whom were women), and the enthusiasm of the crowd.

“I’m enjoying myself immensely. I feel so fortunate,” he remarked as the crowd of 4,100 cheered.

Later in the performance, Stewart was honored onstage with a gold record by a Caesars executive to celebrate his 200th show at The Colosseum. A tray of Wolfie’s Whisky, a brand founded by the singer, was then presented. “I’m going to take a shot of whisky,” he told the audience. After swiftly taking a sip, he nonchalantly shrugged and said, “Showbiz.”

Last August, Rod shared with PEOPLE about launching his own whisky brand, mentioning, “It’s not as straightforward as I presumed it would be.”

Similar to his music, he considers his spirit to be a labor of passion.

“Inspired by my Scottish father, I wanted to get something Scottish accomplished,” he said. “He’d have been immensely proud of that, tremendously proud.”