Stewart's scheduled June 12 performance at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre was canceled shortly before its 7:30pm start time. According to statements released by Live Nation and Stewart's team, the 80-year-old singer was suffering from an acute upper respiratory infection that resulted in laryngitis and was unable to perform on the advice of his physician.
The timing of the cancellation sparked immediate frustration. Many attendees were already en route to the venue during Friday evening rush hour traffic, while others had reportedly already entered the amphitheatre when the announcement was made. At the time, Stewart's representatives stressed that the singer had traveled to the venue and made every effort to perform before ultimately being advised not to take the stage.
Stewart later personally addressed fans from the venue itself.
"Following treatment, I'm feeling much better, but my voice is not," Stewart wrote on social media. "I'm very disappointed and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to my fans. I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight, but unfortunately it just wasn't possible."
Just one day later, however, Stewart appeared on social media documenting his trip aboard a private jet to Boston to attend Scotland's first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades. In videos posted to Instagram, Stewart appeared energetic and enthusiastic as he discussed Scotland's chances in the tournament, saying he would "die a happy man" if the team advanced. The singer was later shown on television during the Scotland-Haiti match at Gillette Stadium, seated in a luxury suite alongside his sons, with what appeared to be multiple alcoholic drinks in front of him.
The optics quickly ignited debate online and drew coverage from national entertainment outlets. Parade Magazine highlighted fan reactions to Stewart's social media posts, noting that many questioned how the singer could be too ill to perform in San Diego yet well enough to fly across the country the following day.
"I understand that shows sometimes have to be canceled, and if there was a legitimate reason, most fans would have accepted it," one commenter wrote beneath Stewart's Instagram video. "What's hard to accept is seeing you apparently celebrating on a plane with friends less than 24 hours after thousands of people were sent home disappointed in San Diego."
Others were more blunt.
"This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?" another commenter wrote.
At the same time, many fans came to Stewart's defense, pointing out that attending a sporting event and performing a two-hour concert are vastly different physical demands.
To be clear, attending a soccer match and performing a full concert are not equivalent activities. Laryngitis can leave a singer incapable of performing while still allowing them to travel, socialize, and attend public events. Stewart's diagnosis may very well have made singing impossible while leaving him physically capable of making the trip to Boston.
Still, for many San Diego fans, the issue is less about whether Stewart was sick and more about timing.
By the time the cancellation was announced, thousands of ticket holders had already committed to attending the show. Many had spent money on parking, hotels, rideshares, meals, and transportation. Others had already arrived at the venue. Seeing the singer appear cheerful aboard a private jet the following morning only amplified the disappointment felt by some attendees.
The controversy also arrives amid a growing series of recent cancellations. Stewart has canceled or postponed multiple performances in recent weeks, including two Las Vegas residency dates last month due to health issues. Friday's San Diego cancellation marked at least the third recent show disruption tied to ongoing vocal or respiratory concerns.
No reasonable fan expects an 80-year-old performer to ignore legitimate medical advice. Age and health realities are part of touring at this stage of life. What many fans are questioning instead is whether the decision could have been made sooner.
As of publication, no makeup date has been announced for the canceled San Diego performance. Ticketmaster purchasers are expected to receive automatic refunds.
The canceled show was Stewart's only scheduled San Diego-area appearance of 2026.
"This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?" another commenter wrote.
At the same time, many fans came to Stewart's defense, pointing out that attending a sporting event and performing a two-hour concert are vastly different physical demands.
To be clear, attending a soccer match and performing a full concert are not equivalent activities. Laryngitis can leave a singer incapable of performing while still allowing them to travel, socialize, and attend public events. Stewart's diagnosis may very well have made singing impossible while leaving him physically capable of making the trip to Boston.
Still, for many San Diego fans, the issue is less about whether Stewart was sick and more about timing.
By the time the cancellation was announced, thousands of ticket holders had already committed to attending the show. Many had spent money on parking, hotels, rideshares, meals, and transportation. Others had already arrived at the venue. Seeing the singer appear cheerful aboard a private jet the following morning only amplified the disappointment felt by some attendees.
The controversy also arrives amid a growing series of recent cancellations. Stewart has canceled or postponed multiple performances in recent weeks, including two Las Vegas residency dates last month due to health issues. Friday's San Diego cancellation marked at least the third recent show disruption tied to ongoing vocal or respiratory concerns.
No reasonable fan expects an 80-year-old performer to ignore legitimate medical advice. Age and health realities are part of touring at this stage of life. What many fans are questioning instead is whether the decision could have been made sooner.
As of publication, no makeup date has been announced for the canceled San Diego performance. Ticketmaster purchasers are expected to receive automatic refunds.
The canceled show was Stewart's only scheduled San Diego-area appearance of 2026.
Originally published on June 13, 2026.
